by Christopher Makaza

As confusion and panic continues to rock the MDC following the Supreme Court ruling, the party’s former deputy leader Tendai Biti has reportedly mobilised US$10000 to bribe local anti-government journalists to write against the ruling, Harare Post has learnt.

A contact within the distressed opposition party revealed that journalists Hopewell Chin`ono and Blessed Mhlanga, Dr Alex Magaisa (lawyer) and Human rights activist Dewa Mavhinga were tasked by Biti to recruit other journalists and bloggers for the project.

“In a meeting held at Biti’s offices in Milton Park on Saturday, the quartet was asked to recruit other journalists who will write flowery and image sprucing articles about the MDC and Nelson Chamisa while denouncing the Supreme Court ruling. Biti told them that the journalists will be paid per article written,” said the contact.

According to the contact, Chin`ono has already started recruiting journalists for Biti`s project in the name of COVID-19 matters.

On April 1, Chin`ono tweeted, “Good afternoon all journalists and filmmakers. If you feel alone and need help, please feel free to inbox me or call me if you have my number.”

Contact said the tweet was a bait to attract potential recruits to touch base with him so that he sells Biti’s project to them.

Chin`ono, a well-known Government critic is already in overdrive, singing for his supper, attacking the court judgement on social media and blaming President Emmerson Mnangagwa and ZANU PF for allegedly abusing the courts.

Posting on his twitter handle after the ruling, Chin`ono said, “… I want to say the court judgment has given Chamisa and his team a new lease of life. They now know that Mnangagwa and ZANU PF are not honest partners. Stop the dialogue talk and focus on real work.”

Dr Magaisa has also commenced propping up Chamisa. His Big Saturday Read instalment of 4 April has hallmarks of a compromised writer as he gave a biased analysis of the Supreme Court ruling.

Political analyst, Happymore Tsonzo says it is better for Biti to use his money to revive his old party as his future in the MDC is no longer certain.

“I think someone should advise Biti that he better use the money he is splashing on journalists to revive his collapsed People’s Democratic Party as it is now clear that he no longer has a place in the MDC,” says Tsonzo.

This is not the first time Biti has been involved in splashing money for nefarious activities. Prior to the MDC Alliance Gweru elective congress last year, he was accused by other party candidates of splashing money on the party`s youths, a move that was viewed as vote buying.