By Staff reporter
Pressure continues to mount on the MDC to explain how they used £20 000 for the #DefendTheVote , a fund mobilised by well-wishers to help that party meet their legal bills following the dismissal with costs, of their legal bid in the Constitutional Court where they were challenging the presidential electoral victory of President Emmerson Mnangagwa , The Harare Post can report.
Stakeholders have been asking the MDC to account for the money which was predominantly donated by diasporas. The party’s treasurer general, David Coltart promised to investigate and make his party accountable. However, the investigations have taken too long, leading to stakeholders losing patience.
The issue has taken a new twist as Coltart and the party’s secretary general, Chalton Hwende are now distancing themselves from the fund, arguing that they were not in office when the fund was established.
“@hwendec & I were only elected on the 27th May - we are working to make the party fully accountable,” wrote Coltart on his twitter handle while responding to a concerned netizen.
However, netizens have expressed disquiet over delay in carrying out the investigation, with some insinuating that the fund was embezzled.
An online discussion forum, Open Parly ZW challenged Coltart saying, “@DavidColtart, it will be difficult considering it’s taking a whole year to account for £20K for the #DefendTheVote to be accounted for.”
Pro-Africa who claims to have contributed to the fund said, “I think it’s important that you address this issue because we paid lots of money. I feel cheated. Please let @euinzim and usembassyharare know where you are with the investigation.”
Without providing any paper trails of the expenditure, Hwende chose to dismiss the allegations that the MDC was failing to account for the money.
“This is completely false and misleading, the £20 000 raised via Go Fund me was used for its intended purpose. The money was raised to pay legal bills related to our election petition. This will be shown when we release our audit report,” said Hwende.
The delay in investigating the issue has raised concern among party members and benefactors who now suspect that the money was used for personal use. A twitter survey was conducted last month on whether the MDC should explain how the money was used and over 70% of supporters agreed that the explanation must be given for transparency’s sake.
The money is believed to have been transferred into the Nelson Chamisa Foundation.
