MEMBERS of Parliament are meant to be lawmakers, but they sometimes find themselves on the wrong side of the law.
MARY MUNDEYA
The NewsHawks takes a look at MPs who violated the law, resulting in their arrest on serious as well as flimsy charges, as the case may be.
Chingosho on calling the First Lady a prostitute
Former Local Government deputy minister and Headlands Zanu PF legislator Christopher Chingosho was in August 2021 arrested for calling First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa a prostitute after he was snubbed at an event held in his constituency.
At the time, police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed Chingosho’s arrest, adding: “We’re still investigating the nature of the report.”
He was later released after being held in police custody for a number of hours.
Chanda on stealing food aid
Zanu PF Gokwe Sesame MP Gordon Chanda in January 2020 was arrested for the alleged abuse of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s agricultural inputs, rice and extortion.
Chanda and his alleged accomplice, ward 13 councillor Georgina Chirongoma, appeared at the Gokwe regional magistrates’ court where they were granted bail after paying ZW$1 000 bail each.
The case was later dismissed for lack of evidence.
Mupfumira on US$95 million corruption
Former Tourism minister and senator for Mashonaland West province Prisca Mupfumira was in 2019 charged with corruption involving US$95 million National Social Security Authority funds.
She was later fired by President Mnangagwa for conduct inappropriate for a government minister and her case is still pending in the courts. It has been deferred to 19 January 2023.
Mandiwanzira on criminal abuse of office
Former Information Communication Technology minister and Nyanga South MP Supa Mandiwanzira was arrested during the early days of November 2018 for alleged criminal abuse of office charges involving appointing Tawanda Chinembiri, his personal assistant, to the Potraz board as well as illegally engaging Megawatt Energy to investigate corruption at NetOne without going to tender.
He was later cleared of all the charges.
Machingauta on rape
MDC-Alliance member of Parliament for Budiriro, Costa Machingauta (45) was in April 2021 arrested on allegations of raping a woman he had given a lift into Harare’s central business district (CBD).
National police spokesperson assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the legislator’s arrest.
“It is confirmed that Costa Machingauta has been arrested in connection with a rape report made by a 26-year-old woman he had given a lift into the CBD, then to Mabvuku and back into the CBD. The alleged rape happened in the CBD. The suspect is expected to appear in court soon,” Nyathi said.
The legislator in 2014 had also been arrested on charges of rape involving a university student.
He was remanded out of custody and the case is still before the courts.
Musarurwa on assaulting Mashumba
MDC-T proportional representation MP Yvonne Musarurwa was arrested in November 2021 for allegedly assaulting then party vice-president Thokozani Khupe’s aide Kudzanai Mashumba at a Press conference.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, saying some of Musarurwa’s co-accused were on the run.
Her assault-related arrest came after she allegedly disrupted a Press conference addressed by Mashumba, who wanted to expose party leader Douglas Mwonzora’s alleged embezzlement of funds.
The case is still before the courts.
Wadyajena on fraud and money laundering
Controversial Zanu PF legislator for Gokwe-Nembudziya Justice Mayor Wadyajena (pictured) and four Cotton Company of Zimbabwe officials were recently arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission over alleged fraud and money laundering involving US$5 million.
The case is still before the courts.
Nduna on unlawful occupation of gazetted land
Zanu PF’s Chegutu West legislator Dexter Nduna was in August this year arrested for allegedly leading and influencing a foiled land invasion at Risboro Farm in Chegutu alongside 30 000 Zanu PF supporters.
The gazetted farm in question was earmarked by the government for urban development under the Smart City project.
The legislator has since been released on free bail and the case is pending.
