Students' unions tear into Chipanga

Zanu-PF youth leader Kudzai Chipanga has drawn brickbats from students' unions for defending the siphoning of $270 000 from the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) by Higher and Tertiary, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo and his deputy Dr Godfrey Gandawa.

Zimdef, whose funding comes from industry, was created to benefit students at tertiary institutions, including when they are on attachment. However, Prof Moyo and Gandawa used the money to strengthen social ties in their constituencies by buying bicycles and motorcycles. Gandawa, according to documents, at one point bought personal furniture using the Zimdef funds.

Prof Moyo has admitted the abuse, but tried to justify it.

Chipanga, who is also accused of benefiting from 100 000 litres of fuel from Zimdef, was on Tuesday quoted in the private media slamming the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.

Chipanga, without explaining how he used his loot, claimed those exposing them were pursuing a factional agenda and wanted to derail Zanu-PF programmes.