(Last Updated on February 2, 2021 by GERALD NCUBE)
HARARE – The MDC-T has played down allegations that party leader Douglas Mwonzora misused party funds, saying this is part of a smear campaign against the party and its leadership.
In a statement, party spokesperson Witness Dube said persistent claims were meant to tarnish the party’s image and that of Mwonzora.
“There are media (formal and social) reports suggesting that there was either theft of funds or money laundering at the MDC-T. These reports are false and malicious. They are designed to tarnish the image of the party and that of the winner of the historic Extraordinary Congress, President Douglas Mwonzora.
“The Extraordinary Congress dealt with the issue of these allegations and concluded that they were false. They were just part of a smear campaign against one of the candidates,” said Dube in a statement.
Dube said the Finance and Administration Committee was scheduled to meet this week to finalise the appointment of external auditors as resolved by the Congress.
He further said their financial dealings and accused the certain activists of trying to extort money from the party.
“Our financial dealings were above board. We are surprised that the Police are being driven by certain activists who have been unsuccessfully trying to extort money from the organisation. Equally shocking are the Whatsapp chats circulating where certain members of the police are seen strategizing with some activists with no locus standi to represent our party,” Dube added.
Last year, reports emerged that Mwonzora had unilaterally transferred some party funds without going through proper channels and some party members had gone to the extent of reporting the issue to the law enforcement agencies.
However, the party leadership denied these claims, with Thokozani Khupe who was then interim leader openly defending Mwonzora and writing to the police to withdraw the charges.
After losing the party’s top position, Khupe backtracked and started claims that Mwonzora had illegally taken party funds and used them to fund his vote-rigging scheme.
Despite the two later embracing each other in a bid to work together, reports claim Khupe is still disgruntled.