Disputes over delays in the release of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) have reignited debate with lawmakers, residents and civic leaders trading blame over stalled projects.
The fund, introduced in 2010 and formalised through the CDF Act of 2022, was meant to decentralise development and give communities a stronger voice in deciding local priorities.
Constituencies are each allocated US$50 000 to undertake development projects.
Some Members of Parliament (MPs) say Treasury has yet to disburse their share.
Emakhandeni-Luveve MP Descent Bajila accused Treasury of undermining trust.
“Some constituencies have not received CDF since 2022 and this is the time citizens who are affected to take action against Treasury,” he said.
“When MPs consult citizens, their expectations on development grow. Delays cause a lot of despair and mistrust. Treasury must be called out for fuelling public mistrust on state processes and citizens must lead that process.”
Bajila stressed that residents had the right to petition the Minister of Finance, approach the courts, or demonstrate peacefully.
“We consulted residents in 2024, and they clearly said they want CDF to go towards water infrastructure. The delay is causing anger, especially given the water crisis,” he said.
Pumula MP Sichelesile Mahlangu said critical community projects were now on hold.
“As a constituency we were hoping to drill and solarise boreholes and fence Isilwane youth centre. At the moment there is no solution because the Finance Minister is letting us down,” she said.
Pelandaba-Tshabalala MP Joseph Tshuma added: “Obviously that means we cannot carry out development projects until the money is released.”
Civic groups argue that MPs must do more to hold Treasury accountable. Khumbulani Maphosa of the Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights said lawmakers were failing to exercise their representative role.
“If he doesn’t come to Parliament, the deputy comes or the Leader of House in Parliament needs to account on what’s happening with the issue of CDF. If the MPs do not apply a push themselves, these funds will not be disbursed at all,” he said.
“We need to see MPs petitioning the Minister, we need to see them protesting in Parliament against the Minister for his failure to transfer the money, because Treasury really is supposed to do that.”
Inside Parliament, frustrations were also mounting. MP Madron Matiza reminded lawmakers that Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube had promised disbursements by September.
“The month just ended after the Minister promised us that before the month ended, the funds would be available. I want to know when exactly we will be assisted,” he said.
Tafadzwa Mugwadi, another MP, said delays had left legislators unable to explain themselves to their constituents.
“I have to be very open that I am not happy that I did not get the funds, yet some of us got it. It has now been three years and we have not received the money, yet those people want me to go,” he said.
“We have agreed on how to spend the CDF and we have submitted the papers. We have been to the Administration, and only yesterday we were there and we got the same response.”
Responding to the debate, Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ziyambi Ziyambi urged MPs to consult Parliament’s Administration for clarification.
“I cannot be able to tell right now whether that money has been disbursed. The Parliament Administration is the one that is responsible for that. They can actually give a better response,” he said.
Acting Speaker Tsitsi Zhou also suggested some MPs had not submitted the required paperwork, which may have contributed to the stalemate.
“It came out that some had not submitted their papers. So, it is important that individual Members of Parliament should go to the Clerk of Parliament so that the issues may be addressed,” she said.
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