Zim legislators in state of panic with fears that they might be arrested

Legislators are reported to be in a state of panic with fears that the Anti-Corruption Commission might arrest many more in connection with the abuse of Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Two Zanu-PF ministers close to President Robert Mugabe face arrest by the Anti-Corruption Commission of Zimbabwe (ACC) over theft of Constituency Development Funds (CDF), it has been established.

High-level briefings has revealed that President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai have been briefed and are not opposing arrests if the ACC has sufficient evidence.

Names of the ministers cannot be revealed due to legal implications as investigations are still in progress while the ACC refused to confirm either the planned arrests or the probe itself.

Both ministers claim to be rich, are engaged in various businesses and are usually at the forefront of bootlicking Mugabe when given the slightest opportunity.

With only four legislators having been arrested in connection with abusing the CDF, impeccable sources say more arrests are imminent as 70% of law-makers are alleged to have abused the money.

All the four arrested legislators are out on bail.

With concern having been raised that the Anti-Corruption Commission has failed to get a single conviction since its inception, there have been reports that the office of the Attorney General had interfered by ordering all arrests to stop.

However, in an interview Attorney General Johannes Tomana said the halting of prosecutions related to the CDFs was to allow the completion of a transparent audit of all constituencies, of which the findings should be submitted by the 12th of June.

Attorney General Tomana said the successful arrest, prosecution and conviction of corrupt people will only be guaranteed if those involved in the process shun corruption and execute their duties without fear or favour.

In a letter in possession of ZBC News dated 05 March 2012, Attorney General Tomana ordered the Ministry of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs and the Anti-Corruption Commission of Zimbabwe to stop all investigations and arrest of legislators alleged to have abused the Constitutional Development Fund.

Tomana gave constitutional affairs minister Eric Matinenga a directive to stop the arrest of MPs accused of abusing CDF until all constituencies were audited. Tomana argues that the investigation should be widened so that everyone will be audited.

At least 10 MPs have been targeted by the ACC for failing to account for the $50 000 allocation received from the ministry of Finance.

So far, four MPs â€" three from the main MDC and one from Zanu PF â€" have been charged with fraud and abuse of authority after failing to account how they used the funds.