"We would want the legislators to come forward and explain themselves so that we act decisively on anyone found guilty of misappropriating government inputs," MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said Sunday.
"We have no sacred cows in terms of corruption in our party and no matter how senior you are in the party, we will deal with you accordingly.
The threat of sanction against the MPs could see them lose out on cabinet appointments in a power sharing government later this week. Evelyn Masaiti, one of the seven accused legislators, was hotly tipped to be named in Morgan Tsvangirai's cabinet nominees.
The other implicated MPs are Ramsome Makamure (Gutu East), Edmore Mudavanhu (Zaka North), Hega Shoko (Bikita West), Edmore Marima (Bikita East), Tichaona Maradza (Masvingo West) and Hamandishe Maramwidze (Gutu North).
Chivi South MP Ivene Dzingirayi and Seke-Chikomba Senator Gladys Mabhiza were the two Zanu PF officials publicly outed last week by the chairman of the logistics sub-committee of the National Resource Mobilisation and Utilisation Committee, Brigadier-General Douglas Nyikayaramba.
Nyikayaramba said all the nine MPs received 20 tonnes of Compound D fertilizer, enough to cover 80ha, and at least 1 tonne of maize seed while one had an extra tonne of seed and diesel while two others received in addition 10 tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate.
Masaiti received 10 tonnes of ammonium nitrate on top of the other inputs, but planted just 6ha and could not account for the rest of the inputs, Nyikaramba said.
Mabhiza is said to have two tonnes of seed and 1 500 litres of diesel, but did not plant anything and could not account for the inputs while Dzingirayi – MP Chivi South – was given his allocation which he misused.
Mudavanhu planted about 5ha and could not account for the remainder while Makamure planted 12 hectares and could also not account for the remainder.
Shoko who beat musician Elias Musakwa in the Bikita West elections last March is said to have planted 10ha and cannot account for the other inputs while Marima planted 5ha and allegedly used the other inputs to campaign in his constituency.
Nyikayaramba said Maradza planted 20 hectares while the other seed, enough to plant 20 hectares, was given to people in his constituency to fulfil his campaign promises.
Maramwidze got Compound D fertilizer, one tonne of maize seed and 10 tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate, but could not account for all the inputs while Masaiti got 10 tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate but planted just 6ha and could not account for the remaining inputs.
Police say they have completed investigations into the corruption and will soon press charges against the legislators.
The National Food Security Programme was put in place to support farmers, many of them newly-resettled under a controversial land reform programme executed by President Robert Mugabe's government since 2000. – Newzimbabwe.com
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