MDC to gobble $2 m on congress

By Gift Mashoko

…as workers go for months without salaries.

The MDC is going to gobble more than $2million for its elective congress scheduled for next month in Gweru amid huge debts in unpaid workers` salaries and allowances for their 2018 polling agents.

The party is also as well as dilapidated party infrastructure.

It has been revealed that the opposition party will spend about $2 million on 6 000 delegates who are expected to attend the congress.

Political analyst, Mr Ray Mutizwa who spoke to Harare Post said the MDC could have moved back their congress to a later date so that they address crucial issues affecting the party.

“Chamisa is just after the MDC leadership post, that’s all he is thinking about. That party owes its workers hundreds of thousands of dollars as well as polling agents they used in the 2018 harmonised elections.

 “They failed as a party to meaningfully donate to Cycone Idai victims, but here they are splashing millions of dollars on a congress which they can move back. ZANU PF deferred all its meet the people rallies so it could assist the Cyclone Idai victims,” he said.

Party insiders who spoke to Harare Post expressed doubt that the said amount was the only figure raised for the event, suspecting that Chamisa and other top leadership might have diverted some of the money to personal use.

Recently, MDC Veterans Activist Association (VAA) accused Chamisa of allegedly abusing 165 000 Pounds donated to the party by a British citizens based in South Africa.

The donated funds were allegedly meant to finance the party`s congress. However, part of the money was allegedly used to construct MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s mansion in Sandton suburb, South Africa while the other fraction is said to have been used for vote buying and intimidating party members who were pro-Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora who had expressed interest to contest Chamisa.

MDC is rocked by serious debts that range from failure to pay its workers and to service its debts as well as rehabilitating their party offices including furniture.  Donations that have been made by party members towards the congress have not been accounted for, raising fears that the top leadership is on fundraising spree to maintain their glitzy standard of living.