MDC-Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa is being funded by
former president Mr Robert Mugabe to outfox his internal rivals ahead of the
party’s congress scheduled for May, The Herald can reveal.
The Herald is reliably informed that Mr Chamisa’s sojourn
to Ghana is also part of a desperate fundraising initiative from some of his
college mates there.
Mr Chamisa is likely to face the party’s secretary-general
Mr Douglas Mwonzora for the party’s presidency.
MDC-A vice president Engineer Elias Mudzuri is also believed
to be considering throwing his hat in the ring for the top post.
MDC-A officials who spoke to The Herald on condition of
anonymity said Mr Chamisa is being bankrolled by the former president to stave
off any potential challenge ahead the congress.
Mr Mugabe also declared open support for Mr Chamisa during
last year’s harmonised elections which the MDC-A leader lost to President
Mnangagwa.
“One thing absurd fantasies being thrown around is that
Zanu-PF is meddling in the opposition’s internal politics and has set aside
US$6 million to ensure that Mr Chamisa loses to whoever is going to challenge
him at congress principally Mr Mwonzora,” said the MDC-A official.
“Whilst they are trying hard to push this narrative, they
are not telling the world that Mr Chamisa is receiving funding from the Blue
Roof. (Blue Roof is Mr Mugabe’s private residence in Harare’ plush suburb of
Borrowdale).
“So far, Mr Chamisa has received a substantial amount that
he is using to do rallies and other party activities meant at canvassing
support ahead of the congress. Remember this is not the first time that Mr
Mugabe has shown support for Mr Chamisa.
“During last year’s elections, he declared his open support
for Mr Chamisa on the eve of the polls hoping that his move was going to swing
votes in favour of the opposition leader.”
Another source revealed that Mr Chamisa’s trip to Ghana
which was couched as a diplomatic offensive was also another fund-raising
expedition.
“He is hoping to get money from Ghana. There are some
Ghanaians who went to the J.F Kennedy School of Public Administration with
Chamisa and they are ones who are mobilising resources for him (Mr Chamisa).
“The money is coming from the Americans and the idea is to
make it come through Ghana. This is the reason why the MDC-A officials have
been at pains to explain the purpose of Mr Chamisa’s visit to Ghana — it was
not a clean trip.”
MDC-A spokesperson Mr Jacob Mafume was evasive when a
comment was sought from him.
“I think the old man must be left in peace. We as the
MDC-Alliance and President Chamisa are engaged with the issues of the suffering
of the people. We are trying to resolve the political and economic crisis which
is affecting the people of Zimbabwe. We have not received any funding from the
former President and neither are we expecting any funding,” he said.
On the Ghana trip, he said Mr Chamisa sought solidarity for
Zimbabwe and assistance to resolve the economic and political challenges facing
the country. Herald
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