The Zimbabwe Constitutional Movement (ZICOMO), one of several groups opposed to the Constitutional Amendment Number 3 Bill, has condemned Wicknell Chivayo’s US$3.6 million offer to Members of Parliament.
On Saturday, Chivayo pledged US$10,000 to each of 360 parliamentarians across the political divide, saying the funds were intended for constituency development work.
In a statement, ZICOMO described the donation by Chivayo, whom it referred to as a “known tenderpreneur and ally of President Mnangagwa”, as a calculated move to influence lawmakers and secure political support for the constitutional reforms.
“This manipulation comes at a critical moment as the Constitutional Amendment Number 3 Bill is set to be presented in parliament, amidst contentious findings from public consultations,” reads the statement.
“This so-called donation starkly illustrates the rampant corruption and misgovernance that plagues the current administration.
“We must firmly underscore several crucial points regarding this attempt to manipulate our political representatives:
“First, the alarming total of $3.6 million earmarked for this alleged donation does not belong to the Mnangagwa family.
“It is public funds—money obtained from the hard-earned taxes and levies of ordinary Zimbabwean workers, businesses, and cross-border traders.
“This money is not a personal slush fund; it is public money entrusted to the government for the proper functioning of society.
“Second, while we do not oppose the allocation of the Constituency Development Fund, we demand a system of accountability and transparency.”
ZICOMO said development funds should be managed and monitored through proper parliamentary channels, rather than being used by the executive to secure the loyalty of Members of Parliament (MPs).
“This blatant misuse of taxpayer funds amounts to bribery and severely undermines the ethical foundations of governance, eroding voter trust.
“As committed citizens of Zimbabwe, we call on our Honourable Members of Parliament to uphold their integrity and remain true to their promises to their constituents.
“Accepting such funds without recognising them as the people’s money—intended for the benefit of the electorate—is unacceptable.
“Furthermore, the disgraceful tactics of using financial incentives and lavish gifts, including vehicles, to secure loyalty in a misguided quest for political dynasties are fundamentally flawed.”
ZICOMO called on Zimbabweans to unite and resist what it described as “insidious attempts to push through the Constitutional Amendment Number 3 Bill.”
It accused the ZANU-PF leadership and its inner circle of abusing their positions of power and using state resources in ways it says undermine the principles and sacrifices for which many fought and died.
“We call upon all Zimbabweans to stand firm, stay vigilant, and resist these audacious efforts to undermine our democratic processes,” reads the statement.
“It is imperative that we collectively unite against the manipulation of our political landscape for personal gain.”
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