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Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry Permanent Secretary Ms Virginia Mabhiza.

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter

JUSTICE, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Secretary Mrs Virginia Mabhiza has revealed that Government officials auditing the Constituency Development Fund were threatened with violence by legislators and that she is now scared for her life should she reveal the identities of the concerned lawmakers.

She said one of the reasons why at least 53 constituencies were not audited is that legislators threatened to harm Government auditors.

Mrs Mabhiza said this while giving oral evidence before a Parliamentary portfolio committee on Public Accounts where she had been invited to explain irregularities found in her ministry by auditor general, Mrs Mildred Chiri.

Bulawayo South MP Mr Eddie Cross (MDC-T) demanded that she identifies the constituencies saying Parliament could institute disciplinary proceedings against the concerned legislators who refused to account for Government money.

“Honourable chairperson, I also need protection as it is not easy to disclose some of the occurrences that we came across. I am also scared at times to reveal some of the information that we came across,” said Mrs Mabhiza.

The committee, chaired by Mufakose MP Ms Paurina Mpariwa (MDC-T), wanted her to explain several issues including why CDF money was paid through cash and not bank transfers and why some constituencies were not audited despite several irregularities unearthed by Ms Chiri regarding the ministry.

Details to follow…