News / National
Tsvangirai, Biti share MDC-T funds
02 Dec 2014 at 06:49hrs | Views
Former prime minister and opposition MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been forced by government to share funds due to the party with his erstwhile and estranged lieutenants fronted by Sekai Holland and going by the name MDC renewal team.
Government, in October, disbursed part of the money due to political parties under the Political Parties Finance Act in which insiders said the opposition MDC-T received around $500 000.
MDC renewal team spokesperson Jacob Mafume also confirmed receipt of the money.
"Indeed, we received our share. The funds that are due to the MDC were shared equally. We have members of parliament who have decided to continue with the fight for democracy and aligned with us. I would not want to go into the little debate of how this money should be shared but the country has bigger problems that require our collective focus to resolve.
"Problems of how the national cake, the national resources should be shared equitably among citizens. As a people, we need to learn to deal with issues and move away from these small debates that do not benefit even those engaged in them," said Mafume.
The renewal team is made up of a group of hardliners in the opposition party who broke ranks with Tsvangirai early this year in a fall-out that followed the 2013 electoral loss to Zanu-PF.
Tsvangirai tried to have the nearly 20 legislators who defied his leadership withdrawn from parliament but hit a brick wall after Speaker of the national assembly referred him to the courts of law.
His situation has now been confounded by the government move to recognise the two formations as equals.
The faction of the party led by Tsvangirai reportedly received about $250 000 days before its elective congress at the end of October while the other half was given to the Renewal political outfit.
MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu, while refusing to divulge figures, confirmed his party had received the funds.
"I can confirm that the government gave us part of the money it owes us but cannot discuss details as to the figures and modalities of how it was disbursed for obvious reasons. It is a party matter that we are not at liberty to discuss with the media," said Gutu.
Asked if he was aware that the renewal team formation had also received the same amount and whether his political outfit had protested the government move, Gutu professed ignorance.
"If that happened then I think it was done before the current standing committee was elected at congress. We are the legitimate recipient of any funds that are due to the MDC from anyone. The other group that you are talking about does not have any representation in parliament and if they are to receive any monies they should after the next election and that is if they would have mastered any representation," said Gutu.
"As a new leadership we are taking appropriate measures to protect the fiduciary interests of the party to make sure what is due to Caesar is rendered to Caesar."
Government, in October, disbursed part of the money due to political parties under the Political Parties Finance Act in which insiders said the opposition MDC-T received around $500 000.
MDC renewal team spokesperson Jacob Mafume also confirmed receipt of the money.
"Indeed, we received our share. The funds that are due to the MDC were shared equally. We have members of parliament who have decided to continue with the fight for democracy and aligned with us. I would not want to go into the little debate of how this money should be shared but the country has bigger problems that require our collective focus to resolve.
"Problems of how the national cake, the national resources should be shared equitably among citizens. As a people, we need to learn to deal with issues and move away from these small debates that do not benefit even those engaged in them," said Mafume.
The renewal team is made up of a group of hardliners in the opposition party who broke ranks with Tsvangirai early this year in a fall-out that followed the 2013 electoral loss to Zanu-PF.
Tsvangirai tried to have the nearly 20 legislators who defied his leadership withdrawn from parliament but hit a brick wall after Speaker of the national assembly referred him to the courts of law.
His situation has now been confounded by the government move to recognise the two formations as equals.
The faction of the party led by Tsvangirai reportedly received about $250 000 days before its elective congress at the end of October while the other half was given to the Renewal political outfit.
MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu, while refusing to divulge figures, confirmed his party had received the funds.
"I can confirm that the government gave us part of the money it owes us but cannot discuss details as to the figures and modalities of how it was disbursed for obvious reasons. It is a party matter that we are not at liberty to discuss with the media," said Gutu.
Asked if he was aware that the renewal team formation had also received the same amount and whether his political outfit had protested the government move, Gutu professed ignorance.
"If that happened then I think it was done before the current standing committee was elected at congress. We are the legitimate recipient of any funds that are due to the MDC from anyone. The other group that you are talking about does not have any representation in parliament and if they are to receive any monies they should after the next election and that is if they would have mastered any representation," said Gutu.
"As a new leadership we are taking appropriate measures to protect the fiduciary interests of the party to make sure what is due to Caesar is rendered to Caesar."
Source - Zim Mail
