By Christopher Makaza
The cash-strapped MDC led by Nelson Chamisa, which at one time bragged about having foreign donors who are willing to pour in billions of dollars, continues to face financial and factional challenges as evidenced by its failure to pay workers and party polling agents they used during the July 30 harmonised elections.
A party insider from Mashonaland West Province, who refused to be named for fear of victimisation, revealed that workers at most party provincial offices have gone for more than a year without receiving salaries. He added that the polling agents who participated during the July election were yet to receive their allowances.
“Party workers have gone for close to fifteen months now without salaries. What Chamisa fails to understand is that the workers are family heads, mothers and fathers with children to look after. In others words, Chamisa has no heart and he only thinks of himself. He prioritises purchasing himself expensive and luxurious cars at the expense of the welfare of dedicated and loyal party workers.
“Close to a thousand polling agents in the Province and several others in other provinces are yet to receive their allowances. They are very disgruntled which is not health for the party. They were each promised ten dollars per day,” he said.
In March this year, 62 of the party’s employees demonstrated outside Harvest House after going for one year five months without salaries. Donor fatigue is certainly being felt in the MDC party with reports of funds diminishing while the bills for debtors, salary arrears and former employees’ compensation are ballooning.
“Factional fights within the party are further dividing us. Our Provincial Chairperson, Ralph Magunje has his own followers who include secretary for elections, Kudakwashe Chigumo and Provincial Youth Chair, Richard Vhitirinyu while the organising secretary, Wilson Makanyaire`s camp comprises of Chegutu district chairperson Gift Konjani and others. The issue behind the conflicts is that they want to position themselves ahead of the party congress like what President Nelson Chamisa is also doing, firing mayors and councillors replacing them with his favourites,” he added.
