Money is the thread that held MDC-T together

Events unfolding in MDC-T over the past months with suspensions and counter suspensions, expulsions and mud-slinging, have left the majority of us hugely disappointed as our hopes of a democratic salvation continue to dwindle.

What has since become abundantly clear is that money is the only thread that was holding MDC-T together not the quest for democratic change as they claimed.

At its inception in 1999, the party alleged that their goal or mission was to bring about democracy and tolerance. Many of us Zimbabweans ululated in anticipation of "change" as we saw in them a messiah.

This misled belief in the genuineness of MDC-T as a people's party has since been shattered.

The degeneration into what can now only be termed a circus has exposed the greedy trait of MDC-T founders and leaders.

The very minute that MDC-T sponsors abroad threatened to cut the flow of funds into the party's coffers after the humiliating and repeated defeat of Morgan Tsvangirai at the polls , the party's core began to unravel.

Previously and curiously silent "true voices of democracy" within the party suddenly clamoured to be heard.

The largely touted democracy has since been thrown in the dustbin as involved members shamelessly sling mud at each other in a bid to gain control or favour from the western sponsors.

Calls for leadership renewal by Elton Mangoma and others were met with a ruthless quashing that saw Mangoma being suspended along with other senior party officials.

Had MDC-T leadership, with Morgan Tsvangirai at the helm, been really champions of democracy, they would have found a more tolerant way to address the issue. After all is that not the essence of true democracy?

Only recently, Tendai Biti joined the fray and Tsvangirai, his deputy, Thokozani Khupe and others were counter-suspended as it were.

Both camps are in the media day in and day out accusing the other of almost similar offences.

It has also been reported that the two MDC-T factions are already fighting over $3 million in political funding from Treasury. All parties with a prescribed presence in Parliament must, in terms of the law, get public funds.

Control of this funding and monies from western party sympathizers is what the two camps are fighting over , not any democratic restoration hogwash they might want to feed the media and Zimbabweans at large.

 Mangoma was quoted in the press saying "The Act is clear on that. The money goes to the party and we are the party. There is no question about that. When the money is released by Treasury, it is coming to us."

His rival's spokesperson, Doulas Mwonzora counter claimed: "The Political Parties Finance Act states that the money goes to the party and not an individual. In this case, it is coming to us and not to the other MDC. We haven't received the money as yet but it is coming to us."

MDC-T has foolishly allowed itself to be dictated to by people with their own western agenda, proving true the adage that he who pays the piper calls the tune.

I put it to MDC-T (whether the "T" stands for Tsvangirai or Team) that had they really been concerned with advancing the cause of democracy in Zimbabwe as they claim day in and day out, they would have found a way to deal with the problems bedeviling the party.

Instead they are seeking higher and dramatic platforms to justify why they and not the other faction should be recipients of any funding meant for MDC-T, much like monkeys that expose their behinds for all to see as they climb higher and higher up the tree.