THE Government is yet to disburse funds to political
parties under the Political Parties (Finances) Act saying its focus is on
addressing the economic hardships that the country is faced, an official has
said.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary in the
Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana
said Treasury will look at funding political parties once money is available.
“Government wishes
to advise the public that it is yet to disburse funds to political parties
(Finances) Act Chapter 2:11. Treasury is seized with the importation of basic
goods and prioritising the cushioning of the general public from the current
economic challenges,” he said.
Mr Magwana said when the funding for political parties is
ready, it will be availed to all eligible political parties in a few weeks.
The clarification comes after MDC A blamed its loss in the
Lupane East by-election at the weekend to lack of funding as the party had not
received finances under the Political Parties Finance Act.
The opposition party’s Mr Dalumuzi Khumalo lost to Zanu
PF’s Cde Mbongeni Dube in by-election.
Last year Zanu-PF and the MDC received US$9 million under
the act which was meant to jump starting the two parties campaign ahead of the
July 30 Harmonised elections.
According to the act, the State is obliged to fund any
party that gets a least five percent of the vote in a general election. Herald
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