MDC-T says State media in ploy to deny the party state funds

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai has rubbished reports by The Herald that the party has been summoned by Western governments to receive funding and brief them on political developments in Zimbabwe saying this is a ploy to deny the party funds it expects to receive under the Political Parties (Finance) Act.

The report said an MDC-T delegation was due to visit England, Australia and Norway between 31 July and 4 August.

MDC-T spokesman Obert Gutu today said the report was fictitious.

“The main sources of funding for the MDC are the political parties funding under the Political Parties (Finance Act) and the subscriptions from its members. The party has no other source of funding,” Gutu said.

“It is false therefore that the MDC will be visiting the countries mentioned in order to transact the business mentioned. The false publication is meant to justify the denial of the MDC of its share of the funds under the Political Parties (Finance) Act.”

The act also bars local parties from receiving foreign funding.

Gutu said MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora wrote to The Herald yesterday setting the facts straight but it did not publish Mwonzora’s statement.

Full statement:

Wednesday, 29 July 2015

State media publishes fictitious interview with MDC Secretary-General    

Over the past two days the state-owned  Herald newspaper has been running with a false story that Western governments had summoned the  MDC to arrange funding for the party.

The publications give an impression that the state newspapers had an interview with our Secretary- General, Mr Douglas T. Mwonzora.

At no point did our Secretary- General have the interview with the state papers or anyone else for that matter on the subject. The reports are therefore false.

Further, the MDC is very much aware that the governments mentioned do not fund political parties. It is therefore the height of absurdity to even imply that these governments had invited the MDC.

The main sources of funding for the MDC are the political parties funding under the Political Parties (Finance Act) and the subscriptions from its members. The party has no other source of funding.

It is false therefore that the MDC will be visiting the countries mentioned in order to transact the business mentioned. The false publication is meant to justify the denial of the MDC of its share of the funds under the Political Parties (Finance) Act.

Yesterday, our Secretary-General wrote to the Herald setting the facts correct but this has fallen on deaf ears.

Obert Gutu

National Spokesperson

Movement for Democratic Change

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