Staff Reporter
Sweden and the United States (US) governments have disbursed dark money to Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CIZC) Chairperson Peter Mutasa and its National Director Blessing Vhavha.
A source within CIZC revealed that the Swedish government availed US$220 000 aimed at organising protests on 5 August 2022. The protests are aimed at unlawfully forcing the release of detained opposition activists which include Interim Vice-Chairperson CCC Job Sikhala, Member of Parliament CCC Godfrey Sithole, ARTUZ President Obert Masaraure and Secretary General Robson Chere and 13 other activists arrested for perpetrating various crimes.
According to the source the US government availed US$140 000 towards the assistance and payment of top US lawyers Amsterdam and Partners who will be assisting lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa.
“On 27 July the Swedish and US governments availed funding to CICZ Chairperson Peter Mutasa and National Director Blessing Vhavha during a dinner meeting. US$220 000 was availed by Sweden with the sole aim of funding to mass protests in the two largest cities and surrounding areas.
“The task of coordinating the protests was bestowed on CIZC as the two governments do not want to come out as meddling in the with country’s domestic affairs. The US government availed a further US$140 000 during the same meeting towards payment of top American lawyers Amsterdam and Partners to assist local lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa in Sikhala and Sithole case,” said the source.
Similar operations like these have been carried out by the US in Zambia where an American and founder of Vanguard Africa Jeffrey Smith worked with Zambian local Joseph Kalimbwe, which led to the ouster of its former president Edgar Lungu. On his Twitter handle Mr Smith confirmed America working with Kalimbwe in the ouster of the former Zambian President
In March 2022 Team Pachedu and other US-funded Western projects were funded by the United States Embassy to bring the country to a Socio-Economic standstill. This plot was however exposed and resulted in a flop.
In May 2022 seven Zimbabwean activists were arrested upon their return from Maldives where they had returned from training organised by an American organisation Center for Non-Violence Action and Strategies (CANVAS).
Meanwhile, citizens have expressed concern over the continued infringement by the US government in the country’s domestic affairs. They have called on the US and its allies to respect Zimbabwe as an independent and sovereign country.
