HARARE – Finance Minister and Harare East MP Tendai Biti lost his cool during an interview with a Zanu PF aligned radio station that had asked him to respond to allegations that he abused his US$50 000 Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
The ZiFM owned by Zanu PF parliamentary candidate Supa Mandiwanzira had followed a Facebook posting by Harare Residents’ Trust coordinator Mr Precious Shumba who had requested that Biti should account for the money.
“From several interviews conducted so far, we have every reason to believe that the funds were not transparently used,” said Mr Shumba alleged.
An audibly nervous and unsure ZiFM reporter Garikai Fadzi then called up Biti to ask about the allegations. Biti was however not amused and lost his rag.
“Ende mukaita zvemangamanga ndinokusuwayi to the mhata. Wazvihwa here, mukomana? The three councillors ndovanosaina. I do not involve myself with those things,” he said.
He said the funds, amounting to $22 000, were in a bank account. “Do not make me answer zvinhu zvema stupid people,” said Mr Biti.
“Look at the money that is used and the money that is in the bank. Do not make me answer zvinhu zvema stupid people. Do not ask me a stupid question.
“Unofunga ndingabe kamari ikako? Unofunga kuti ndigabe kamari ikako? The money is in a bank. We have not used the money. Wakamboinzwa inonzi Harare Residents’ Trust?”
Biti said he accounted for the money and that he was not a signatory to the account, adding that his name had never been mentioned among the people who abused the CDF.
Referring the journalist to his secretary, Patience Nyangare, Mr Biti said three councillors from the constituency were the signatories to the fund.
Biti alleged the Harare Residents’ Trust was a non-existent structure and was made up of Zanu-PF “crooks”. He said he would not account to a non-existent structure and alleged that the reporter had been sent to tarnish his image.
“I know the people who are sending you,” he charged.
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