By Political Reporter
…..forces members to contribute towards party programmes
There is growing disgruntlement within the MDC Alliance Bulawayo Province structures with members complaining against the forced financial contributions towards that party’s programmes.
A source who spoke to this publication said MDC Alliance members in Bulawayo are now fed up by the continued demand for monetary contributions and some are contemplating ditching the party and join other political formations with less demands for money.
“Members are complaining about the continued demand for financial contributions by our Treasury department. Each time, our Provincial Treasurer, Sonny Phiri and his deputy, Kwanele Ndlovu, are always sending messages to members to contribute financially towards party programmes. We are now tired of these demands because, like everyone in the country, we are facing financial challenges caused by Covid 19 and these continued demands for financial contributions are now boring,” said the source.
An MDC Alliance insider who spoke to this publication said members are now tired of contributing towards the upkeep of the party as the party is doing nothing to raise funds through other avenues.
“The financial burden is falling on the shoulders of perennial financial contributors such as Nicola Watson, Helen Mpofu, Alderman Clayton Zana, Pastor Obert Manduna, Gideon Shoko, Percy Nyathi and Sonny Phiri. However, these members are now tired of perennially contributing towards party programmes and some of them have reduced the measure of their contributions. If these people stop their financial contributions, then all party programmes in Bulawayo will crumple as we are currently getting nothing from the national office,” said the source.
The same source further accused the tiff between the Treasurer Phiri and his deputy Ndlovu as the reason the party has failed to kick-start income generating projects.
“Our Provincial coffers are dry because the Treasurer and his deputy who should be on the forefront of mobilizing resources are always fighting against each other. The two men are fighting for supremacy and the little funds they get, they will use them to please the national leaders at the expense of the party programmes. Both Phiri and Ndlovu are not worth to be the custodians of the party’s Provincial purse as they don’t have the fundraising skills needed for a party like MDC Alliance. The national leadership must remove these men from the treasury department as they have no clue on how to generate income for the party,” added the source.
The financial situation in MDC Alliance has been worsened by donor fatigue and a series of blunders over the years.
The constant infighting within the party has also seen some members who used to donate towards the party either joining MDC T or ZANU PF.
