Political Reporter

The beleaguered MDC Alliance has hit hard times with reports that it was struggling to finance its day to day operations and workers have gone for several months without receiving their salaries.

An insider told this publication that the MDC Alliance had since drastically slashed its staff compliment to reduce the wage bill as it battles to contain the ever ballooning wage bill.

“The party is in a financial quandary as its coffers are dry. It is failing to fund critical party programmes such as voter mobilization and workers have gone for months without receiving their salaries. A number of party workers have since been dismissed, save for those who work in the critical departments of the party,” said the insider.

According to the insider, the MDC Alliance reduced its workers from 120 to only 28. The reduction of staff compliment left the administration department with only seven people, the National chairperson’s office with only one, while the Elections department was left with two people. Drivers have been reduced to three, protocol department now has two people and security aides were reduced to only five.

The source added that the financial challenges in that party were as a result of constant factional bickering that has left donors and other well-wishers confused on how they should financially assist the party. The Maruva cabal led by Secretary General Charlton Hwende and others, has reportedly adopted a wait and see approach as they are not happy with the manner Nelson Chamisa is running the party.

The Maruva cabal which was previously the financial backbone of the MDC Alliance was not happy by how they had been relegated to the peripheries of the party with Chamisa now preferring to work with the Johnny-come-lately like Fadzayi Mahere and Gift Ostallos Siziba, among others. Another clique of Biti, Thabitha Khumalo, David Coltart and Job Sikhala has since relegated itself to backbenchers citing Chamisa’s personalization of the party.

The source said members were not happy with Chamisa who has refused to relocate to party’s rented offices in Malbereign preferring to continue conducting party business at his Advocate Chambers offices at Old Mutual building. Ironically, Chamisa was demanding monthly rentals at a time his party was about to buckle under debts.

Efforts to get a comment from both Chamisa and party spokesperson Mahere were futile as they were not picking calls.