News / National
Push for Mwonzora arrest
05 Feb 2021 at 01:48hrs | Views
WAR is brewing in the MDC-T camp amid allegations that members of the party aligned to vice-president Thokozani Khupe are pushing to have party leader Douglas Mwonzora and his allies arrested for allegedly stealing millions of dollars from party coffers.
Party insiders said police had already recorded statements from key witnesses who received millions of dollars to buy foreign currency on the streets ahead of the opposition movement's extraordinary congress last December.
MDC-T spokesperson Witness Dube confirmed the plot against Mwonzora in a statement, where he accused the police of behaving unprofessionally.
"We are surprised that the police are being driven by certain activists who are unsuccessfully trying to extort the organisation," Dube said.
"Equally shocking are WhatsApp chats circulating where certain members of the police were strategising with some activists who have no locus standi to represent our party."
Police reports seen by NewsDay show that in the run-up to the party congress, $1,8 million was transferred to one Martha Munandi and another $1,75 million transferred to a CABS account belonging to a trust, while $2,8 million was transferred to a petroleum company with links to party treasurer-general Tapiwa Mashakada.
"We also know that these allegations are meant to forestall the external audit as ordered by the congress. They are meant to frustrate our fundraising efforts. We put it on record that all monies are fully accounted for and have been legally used," Dube said.
Party secretary-general Paurina Mupariwa could neither confirm nor deny that the MDC-T bought forex on the black market.
"Where they got the foreign currency will be said in a full audit report. We are going to have an external report, why not wait for it and it will answer all the questions," she said.
During the congress, Khupe accused Mwonzora of stealing money from the party, while Chief Ndlovu, the deputy treasurer-general confirmed that the party bought foreign currency.
A check with the foreign currency auction system shows no foreign currency bought by the party, suggesting the party went to the illegal market.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was not yet sure if his team was working on the MDC-T fraud docket.
Party insiders said police had already recorded statements from key witnesses who received millions of dollars to buy foreign currency on the streets ahead of the opposition movement's extraordinary congress last December.
MDC-T spokesperson Witness Dube confirmed the plot against Mwonzora in a statement, where he accused the police of behaving unprofessionally.
"We are surprised that the police are being driven by certain activists who are unsuccessfully trying to extort the organisation," Dube said.
"Equally shocking are WhatsApp chats circulating where certain members of the police were strategising with some activists who have no locus standi to represent our party."
Police reports seen by NewsDay show that in the run-up to the party congress, $1,8 million was transferred to one Martha Munandi and another $1,75 million transferred to a CABS account belonging to a trust, while $2,8 million was transferred to a petroleum company with links to party treasurer-general Tapiwa Mashakada.
"We also know that these allegations are meant to forestall the external audit as ordered by the congress. They are meant to frustrate our fundraising efforts. We put it on record that all monies are fully accounted for and have been legally used," Dube said.
Party secretary-general Paurina Mupariwa could neither confirm nor deny that the MDC-T bought forex on the black market.
"Where they got the foreign currency will be said in a full audit report. We are going to have an external report, why not wait for it and it will answer all the questions," she said.
During the congress, Khupe accused Mwonzora of stealing money from the party, while Chief Ndlovu, the deputy treasurer-general confirmed that the party bought foreign currency.
A check with the foreign currency auction system shows no foreign currency bought by the party, suggesting the party went to the illegal market.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was not yet sure if his team was working on the MDC-T fraud docket.
Source - newsday
