THE opposition MDC has hired independent auditors after $2
million allegedly vanished from its accounts last year, officials said
yesterday.
MDC treasurer-general David Coltart confirmed to NewsDay
that a team of independent auditors would start work this week after
unconfirmed reports that the money had been abused by unnamed top officials and
individuals.
He could, however, not be drawn into confirming or denying
the theft reports. “We are starting an audit today because the party, at my
request, has agreed to have an audit. We will have a standard audit and until
maybe the audit reveals the irregularities, I am not aware of such,” Coltart
said.
“Whether it is $190 000 or $1,9 million, I am not aware of
any irregularities. I am not saying they are not there. I am not an auditor and
that is why we have an audit. An independent firm will be doing the audit of
the MDC books since 2019 and it is the first for the MDC and for any political
party. It is the first time a political party has subjected itself to an
audit.”
There have been concerns from within the party over
allegations of abuse of funds in the opposition which prompted the audit.
MDC sources said there was proof that $1,9 million
withdrawn from the MDC had been used for other unintended purposes.
“We are faced with that challenge whereby $1,9 million was
stolen and used for other purposes,” the source said.
Last year, the MDC received more than $4 million under the
Political Parties Finance Act.
Government released more than $12 million to both the MDC
and Zanu PF to share according to the numbers garnered in the 2018 harmonised
elections.
This is not the first time the MDC has been in the eye of a
storm over alleged abuse of funds.In 2014, the party split into two distinct camps amid
accusations that donors were not happy with how the leadership had used funds.
As a result of alleged lack of accountability in party
finances, the insiders said donors had withdrawn financial support to the main
opposition following the 2014 allegations leading into a serious financial
crisis.
It emerged back then that the party leadership was
allegedly spending big on personal projects while the party was failing to pay
its workers and fund key party programmes.
Meanwhile, MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa yesterday said he has
been encouraged by the Malawian judiciary which exhibited courage in annulling
the country’s disputed presidential election and urged Sadc and the African
Union (AU) to draw key lessons from Malawi.
The Malawian Constitutional Court on Monday annulled the
May 2019 presidential vote that declared Peter Mutharika a winner and ordered a
re-run after an application from opposition parties cited irregularities.
Zimbabawe’s main opposition leader is still leaking his
wounds after losing an election petition in which he challenged the 2018
election results. The ConCourt upheld the election of President Emmerson
Mnangagwa and declared him duly elected.
Chamisa’s spokesperson, Nkululeko Sibanda yesterday said
his boss was impressed by the judgment made by the Malawian ConCourt which he
said was a lesson to Sadc and the African Union not to rush and endorse
elections without fully applying themselves to the situation.
“The president (Chamisa) is very excited and encouraged by
the judgment made by the Malawian ConCourt. It’s historic and unprecedented.
The Malawian justice system has shown courage in nullifying the presidential
election and ordering for a re-run. This shows that the courts are
institutionalised and don’t play to the whims of politicians,” said Sibanda
He said Chamisa applauded Malawi’s security forces for
their show of character in upholding their country’s Constitution.
“Sadc, AU and Zimbabwe should draw key lessons from Malawi.
As for Sadc and the AU the lessons are that they shouldn’t just endorse
elections which will later be nullified as they put themselves in an awkward
position as is the case in Malawi. Sadc and the AU should be above local
systems and institutions and stop delegitimising themselves,” he said. Newsday
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