Zanu PF, MDC share ZWL$1.5bn political parties fun...

Zanu PF, MDC share ZWL$1.5bn political parties funding

Zim Now Writer

Zanu PF and the Douglas Mwonzora-led Movement for Democratic Change have received their share of the ZWL$1.5 billion for 2022 under the Political Parties (Finance Act) which allocates money to political parties that have won more than 5 percent of the votes in a general election.

In the 2018 general elections, Zanu PF got 70.03 percent of the vote and got $985 874 400 while the MDC, which received 29.97 percent of the vote will get $422 517 600.

This was announced in a General Notice 2815 of 2022, which read in part:

“It is hereby notified, in terms of section 3(2) of the Political Parties (Finance) Act [Chapter 2:041, that the total amount of moneys payable to political parties in respect of the year beginning 1st January, 2023, and ending on the 31st December, 2023, is one billion four hundred and eight million, three hundred and ninety-two thousand dollars only. The money shall be disbursed to political parties that qualify in terms of section 3(3) of the Act as follows: (a) nine hundred and eighty-five million eight hundred and seventy-four thousand four hundred dollars ($985 874 400,00) shall be paid to the Zimbabwe African National Union (Patriotic Front) Zanu PF which received 70.03 percent of the votes cast; and (b) four hundred and twenty-two million five hundred and seventeen thousand six hundred dollars ($422 517 600,00) It shall be paid to the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC.), which received 29.97 percent of the total votes cast.”

In the 2018 elections, the MDC contested the 2018 elections as the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance, which was a coalition of seven political parties but transformed into a single political party in 2019 under the leadership of Nelson Chamisa.

However, Chamisa’s leadership of the party was in 2020 nullified by the courts and the party, which was formerly led by late former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, falling into the hands of Thokozani Khupe who was toppled by Mwonzora at the party congress.