By Christopher Makaza
Beleaguered MDC leadership is up in arms with their party members who are accusing them of misusing donor funds and money they received from Government under the Political Finance Act.
Sources within the opposition party are complaining that nothing tangible came out of the $3.4 million which MDC got from Government under the Political Finance Act this year yet they were expecting the funds to address salary and transport issues among others affecting the party.
The sources alleged that a larger part of the money was used to ferry party members who went to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to demonstrate against President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Government in September this year.
“We are really disappointed with priorities that are made by our leaders. They ignore our plights and just think of themselves and their families. We celebrated when the $3.4 million came hoping it was going to address our challenges especially the issue of salaries of party employees. Employees have gone for some months now without salaries yet they prioritise demonstrations which at the end of the day will not change anything.
“Our leaders are purchasing luxury vehicles behind our backs and some of them are building very expensive houses in and outside Zimbabwe using donor funds yet the party is failing to carryout mobilisation activities due to lack of money,” fumed one source who preferred anonymity for fear of victimisation.
The party leadership were also accused of awarding themselves hefty allowances at the expense of party activities.
The sources revealed that they were aware their president Nelson Chamisa was among those building luxury houses in the country and purchasing mansions in South Africa using donor funds.
MDC Veterans Activist Association (VAA) a few months ago accused Chamisa of allegedly abusing 165 000 Pounds donated to the party by a British citizen based in South Africa.
The VAA members revealed that Chamisa used part of the money to purchase his mansion in Sandton suburb in South Africa while the other fraction was used for vote buying and intimidation of party members who were pro Douglas Mwonzora who had shown presidential ambitions during that time.
The donated funds were allegedly meant to finance the party`s crucial elective congress held in May this year.
Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House (MRTH) formerly known as Harvest House received a facelift after the opposition party received the $3.4 million from Government.
The building had been an eyesore for some time now with broken windows, dirty walls and broken furniture punctuating the party offices.
MRTH is one of the major debtors at City of Harare owing the council over $200 000.
