CCC funds government funds withheld until party r...

CCC funds government funds withheld until party resolves internal squabbles

Nyashadzashe Ndoro

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi, has said the government will not allocate funds to the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change until it resolves internal squabbles.

CCC is currently facing internal problems involving factionalism. The mass recall of councillors and MPs by Sengezo Tshabangu, the party’s disputed interim secretary-general, has worsened the situation.

CCC leader Nelson Chamisa claims Tshabangu is an imposter and has since dragged him to court over the matter.

The unavailability of structures within the CCC has created room for disputes.

While Tshabangu’s authority is being challenged in the courts, it is reported that the politician has written to Ziyambi, saying that he is entitled to the funds.

In Zimbabwe, the financing of political parties for purposes of their operations and elections is provided for by an Act of Parliament aptly named the Political Parties (Finance) Act [Chapter 2:11].

In an interview with The Herald, Ziyambi said the law will determine how funds will be disbursed. He further pointed out that the money will not be released if the opposition is having disputes.

“The political parties in Parliament are identifiable. We have Zanu PF and CCC, so in that process, we will gazette how much has been allocated and what each party is entitled to,” he said.

“We will then ask authorised representatives of the said parties to submit names and account numbers where the money will be deposited.

“We will not release money if there are disputes but will allow them to fix their issues.

“If it means they go to court we will comply with whatever the court would have ruled.”

The money is disbursed under the Political Parties and Finance Act based on the percentage of votes the two parties received in the August 2023 harmonised elections.