By Christopher Makaza

MDC Bulawayo Province is in a huge debt which is threatening the smooth flow of party activities and triggering massive divisions within the broke opposition party.

The beleaguered party owes Tel-One $25 000 and Bulawayo City Council (BCC) $13 000. Tel-One has since instructed MDC to pay at least $15 000 by today, 11 November or risk litigation.

According to a source within the party, the provincial leadership has since send a delegation to the party`s national treasury which, however, advised them to be initiative and find means and ways to raise the needed money.

The source further revealed that the team also approached legislators in Bulawayo who refused to assist them due to factional reasons. According to the source, most legislators in the province are aligned to former provincial chairperson Gift Banda’s faction; hence they are reluctant to assist their rival faction led by Provincial Chairman, James Sithole.

Some MDC members according to the source, are accusing the top provincial leadership of misusing $5 000 released by the National Treasury meant for 42 members who attended a Strategic Planning Workshop in October. The members allegedly fingered Bulawayo Provincial Treasurer, Sonny Phiri as the chief culprit in the abuse of party funds.

Sithole reportedly defended his executive against funds abuse claims saying the money is still available and that the 42 intended beneficiaries will instead receive a $10 each  while the rest will be channelled towards clearing the Tel-One debt.

MDC is also among the top Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) defaulters, according to a list of defaulters availed to this publication by the power utility company.

MDC Bulawayo is not the only province facing financial challenges. Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House, formerly Harvest House is one of the major debtors of the City of Harare, owing the urban council over $200 000.

The broke party has also gone for several months without paying party employees.