The new leaders of the Vendors for Economic Development (Vendors 4ED) have expelled former top officials and suspended several members in Bulawayo over allegations of misappropriating US$200 000 in empowerment funds meant for distribution across ten provinces.
In a letter dated January 11, 2026, addressed to the Zanu PF Bulawayo province, the newly installed national executive announced the expulsion of former national chairman Samora Chisvo and former secretary Bright Kwinjo.
They are accused of diverting US$125 000 of the total fund, with each province having been slated to receive US$20 000.
The letter, signed by new national secretary general Albi Marima and national chairman Sawu Jere, also detailed the suspension of five Bulawayo members for allegedly conspiring with the expelled leaders and former Bulawayo patron Tendai Charuka.
“We have suspended Sindiswe Moyo and others; she connived with Kwinjo and Chisvo and other members to misuse vendors' empowerment funds for personal gains,” the letter stated.
According to the new executive, Chisvo, Kwinjo, and Charuka were summoned by the Zanu PF commissariat department, but failed to appear.
The letter alleged that the suspended Bulawayo executive members “lied and connived with Charuka to misuse Vendors 4ED cash while he is not even in Vendor 4ED structures.”
“No cash was received from 25 June 2025 disbursement date until now,” the executives noted, highlighting the unresolved disappearance of the funds.
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The suspended members are Sindisiwe Moyo, Sekai Nyoni, Florence Ncube, Kelvin Mavura, Simelenkosi Ncube, and Tendai Charuka, who was the Zanu PF aspiring candidate for Bulawayo Central in the 2023 elections.
Jonas Chiro was appointed as the new Bulawayo provincial chairperson to lead the provincial structure pending further investigations.
The new national executive committee was formed last week, with Sawu Jere replacing the expelled Chisvo.
Other appointments include Nyarai Simenti (Midlands) as vice chair, Janet Munyoro (Masvingo) as treasurer, and Albi Marima (Manicaland) as secretary general.
The new committee said it was establishing a structure to investigate the full extent of the missing empowerment funds.
