Harare Post Correspondent
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader, Nelson Chamisa and his close lieutenants in the opposition party, are suspected to be taking advantage of the secret nature of donations the party is receiving from crowd funding and Western donors, to divert the funds for personal uses.
An official within the opposition party who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity revealed that to date, CCC had accumulated over USD$30 million donated mostly by well-wishers. He further revealed that most of the money came from the Heyymany Foundation, sympathisers from neighbouring countries like Zambia and South Africa, as well as secret donations from local business people. He went on to reveal that an Information Technology company named Almanact and an unnamed fuel mogul, had made significant donations to the CCC According to the official, the funds donated are supposed to pay all CCC activists a monthly allowance of at least US$100 until August 2023. He added that all the people involved in the 2023 election campaigns were supposed to be paid US$100 and that at least 500 campaign vehicles should have been imported and branded by this time.
The official noted that the situation on the ground, however, suggested that not even a cent had reached any party member, a situation which he said had led to growing perceptions that the money was being chewed by Chamisa and his kitchen cabinet. He noted that if the situation continued unabated, the CCC was going to lose the forthcoming elections dismally.
“If you remember well, a lot of money was raised to fund the famous trio’s ((Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marowa and Cecelia Chimbiri)court case.That money ended up in the pockets of the party leadership. Most of our leaders are living large, driving expensive cars and building expensive mansions using donor funds while the party is broke,” fumed the official.
Recently Chamisa was under pressure to account for USD$122 300 donated by sympathisers for the purchase of a bullet proof off-road vehicle for his use. Individuals who supported the initiative 10 months ago demanded updates on what had become of the donated money or the vehicle, putting into sharp focus transparency and accountability around the initiative.
The opposition party used to have reliable funders who believed and had faith in its leadership, but after realising that it was full of corrupt individuals who were just after abusing party funds at the expense of funding party activities, the donors withdrew.
