MDC-T admits milking MPs

MDC-T yesterday admitted to milking sitting Members of Parliament through imposition of stringent conditions like demanding $1 000 non-refundable application fee to be considered as candidates in the forthcoming general elections later this year.

Those who are not MPs will only pay $100. The stringent conditions has caused outrage within the opposition party led by Mr Nelson Chamisa.

The legislators have threatened to derail Mr Chamisa's presidential bid by withdrawing their support.

In an interview yesterday, MDC-T deputy national chairperson Mr Morgan Komichi defended the demands described by most MPs as "outrageous."

"It is a decision that was agreed upon by the national council after an extensive debate.

"We are getting very little from Government and we have to raise funds by ourselves through our membership," said Mr Komichi.

He said sitting MPs were already gainfully employed and it was prudent that they pay reasonable amount to sustain the party.

"They should appreciate these issues. Besides, they are workers of the party and closer to the party than anyone else.

"There must be a gesture of some sort of commitment to the party," said Mr komichi.

But the legislators have accused Mr Chamisa of deviating from an earlier pledge not to subject them to primary elections.