Chamisa, allies accused of siphoning poll agents' ...

Chamisa, allies accused of siphoning poll agents' allowances

Zim Now Writer

Former opposition Citizens Coalition for Change, leader Nelson Chamisa and his allies, Gift Ostallos Siziba and Amos Chibaya are being accused of stealing the money donated for paying election agents during the 2023 harmonised general elections.

The allegations were made public by Kuwadzana East legislator, Chalton Hwnde in a response to former CCC MP for Seke constituency Willard Madzimbamuto’s claim that Chamisa’s new blue movement was “a fictitious and deceptive factional agenda”.

“The blue brigade is a fictitious and deceptive factional agenda. A classic example of abuse of the perceived proximity to power! We must be disturbed when once a great movement that filled stadiums now is celebrated in halls and homes.”

Hwende responded: “This is what is happening and a correct assessment of what is happening. People who stole money for election agents are the ones driving this deception.”

Siziba dismissed the allegations by posting a document showing that US$105 301.77 was donated by the Zimbabweans living in diaspora. This, however, worsened the issue after critics, for instance, controversial journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, divided the amount “by 12 500 polling stations, it gives you US$8.42 per polling station and with two agents per polling station, it means that they were paid US$4 per agent which is ridiculous”!

Without specifying, Chin'ono argues that there is a donor complaining that the money it gave to CCC for the purposes of running the plebiscite is not being accounted for.

“This is not the money those aggrieved have been complaining about to the media, they are referring to agents being paid US$30 each instead of the US$50 that was provided by the donor, in some areas they ended up giving some US$20 or US$15 per agent. They say there was systematic chaos, which they say was deliberate.

“I think instead of fighting on timelines, engage your colleagues and the agents who have brought this up, and come back when you have an agreement or disagreement.

“These people are not anonymous, you know them.

“Some of the donors have said that they had a meeting with Amos Chibaya where they were not given satisfactory answers yesterday, engage them,” he said.

The chaos in the opposition started soon after the August 23-24 elections last year, when Sengezo Tshabangu emerged, claiming to be the CCC’s interim secretary-general. He went on to recall dozens of MPs and councillors aligned to Chamisa, claiming they had ceased to be party members.

His actions were endorsed by the courts, Parliament and local government. In January this year, Chamisa decided to dump the CCC, opting for a movement which has been started identifying itself with the colour blue.

But the opposition politician is seemingly in trouble over the issue of funds. Agents are said to be demanding their allowances, which run into thousands of US dollars.