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Simbaneuta Mudarikwa

Harare Bureau—
LEGISLATORS implicated in secret meetings with United States embassy officials, briefing them on classified internal discussions related to the party’s succession and receiving finances for their work, have denied any links with the embassy. This comes as the US embassy yesterday said it has a long standing assistance programme, the Ambassador’s Special Self Help, which provides small grants of up to $20,000 to assist small-scale community development projects at the village level.

Karen Kelly, the Counselor for Public Affairs at the US Embassy in Harare yesterday said no Zimbabwean MP had received any funding through the programme.
At least 12 lawmakers have been implicated in the scandal, being accused of briefing US embassy’s second secretary in charge of parliamentary section Eric Little about developments in the party.

Little attends most parliamentary sessions open to the public in the House and is believed to be a Central Intelligence Agency operative.
The embassy reportedly invited Cdes Paul Mavhima (Gokwe Sengwa), Walter Kanhanga (Guruve North), Adam Chimwamurombe (Chipinge West), Chriswell Mutematsaka (Guruve South), Batsirayi Pemhanayi (Mutare North), Enock Porusingazi (Chipinge West), Tapiwanashe Matangaidze (Shurugwi South), Temba Mliswa (Hurungwe West), Kindness Paradza (Makonde), David Butau (Mbire), Simbaneuta Mudarikwa (Uzumba) and another from Masvingo province.

Those who attended the signing ceremony were Cdes Kanhanga, Chimwamurombe and Mutematsaka.
Cde Paradza yesterday said he was never invited to the event.
“I have never been given money by the Americans and have never received any invitation,” he said.

“The only invitation I got from the Americans was when they invited me for their Independence Day celebrations in July and I did not attend because of other commitments. The story is malicious and just a smear campaign bent on tarnishing my image.”

Cde Mudarikwa said: “Continue writing what you want. What do you want from me?”
Cde Butau said he would not speak on the matter.
“I do not have anything to say on that issue,” he said.

The US embassy said the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Programme was a long-standing assistance programme that existed in Zimbabwe since 1980.
“We would like to correct the impression generated by your newspaper’s article that appeared on Friday, September 19, which alleged that local legislators aligned to Zanu-PF were recipients of the US Ambassador’s Self Help Fund,” said Kelley.

“This assertion is in error; no Zimbabwean MPs have received any funding through this programme. The programme has provided small grants of up to $20,000 to assist small-scale community development projects improve the basic economic or social conditions at the village level.

“It is distinct from larger-scale assistance provided by the US government. Specifically, these funds are meant to support small, short-term, community-driven activities that are designed to bring about a tangible and immediate improvement in peoples’ lives.”

Cde Kanhanga said he was invited to witness the signing ceremony on the basis that the NGO operating in Mashonaland Central where his constituency is located, the Farmer’s Association of Community Self-Help Investment Groups, was receiving a $15,000 grant.

“Everyone is entitled to his opinion,” he said. “That’s madness, that is b******t.”
Cde Mutematsaka said reports that they were working with the US government for regime change were unfounded.
“These are unfounded allegations being peddled by people without correct information,” he said.
Cde Porusingazi said although he was invited he did not attend the signing ceremony.

“My constituency had no link with the community projects the Americans are funding,” he said.
“The other reason I did not want to go to the embassy was because I wanted to be sure about the intention and purpose linked to the invitation since these people had no activity in my constituency.”

Cde Chimwamurombe confirmed attending the meeting.
“Two groups in my constituency received the money,” he said.
“Tongogara group through Christian Care received $24,000 and they are going to buy sewing machines, sponsor HIV and Aids programmes and food security programmes.

“Musabayana village also received $13,000 and they are buying grinding mills where they will charge R5 per bucket and they want to start a community garden where they will be drying some vegetables for sale.”

Said Cde Mavhima: “I did not go there because my priority is on government business. Why would I go when I have more pressing government business?
“Whoever is saying that is desperate to tarnish other people’s names and I would want to urge such people to do a proper homework before they start making such unfounded, baseless and malicious allegations.”

Cde Matangaidze said; “Yes, I was invited. I did not attend because I did not know the organisation which had applied for the grant. I only read about it when it was published in the H-Metro.”