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Political capture allegations rock MDC-T

Politics
MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai allegedly received assistance to pay his medical bills in South Africa from that province’s chairperson, one Chief Ndlovu, who now stands accused of fanning factionalism amid fears of party capture.

MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai allegedly received assistance to pay his medical bills in South Africa from that province’s chairperson, one Chief Ndlovu, who now stands accused of fanning factionalism amid fears of party capture.

BY BLESSED MHLANGA

The information is contained in leaked WhatsApp messages from a South African-registered phone number indicating that.

The messages, from one Vickson Mundiya, allege Ndlovu has been Tsvangirai’s major financier as factional wars in the largest opposition party in the country escalate.

“Do you know Chief was once appointed in (sic) the national fundraising committee? Do you know Chief paid R300 000 for the treatment of the president (Tsvangirai)? Do you know Chief raised R75 000 for the 2013 presidential campaign?

“Do you know Chief rescued Harvest House which was at (sic) the brink of being repossessed due to outstanding bills?” one of the chats read.

But the MDC-T dismissed the claims and instead accused the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) of circulating the message in an attempt to soil Tsvangirai’s image.

MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu said Tsvangirai was funding his own medical bills and had not turned to any of his party members for assistance.

“President Morgan Tsvangirai is a man of his own means and please stop insulting him by suggesting that he is being looked after by Chief Ndlovu or by any other person for that matter.

We suspect that these false and malicious allegations are being fuelled by CIO and Zanu PF agents,” he said.

Party insiders, however, said Ndlovu had become untouchable and had since captured the party owing to his financial muscle which had earned him the name “MDC-T Gupta”, after the alleged “capture” of President Jacob Zuma by the Gupta familly in South Africa.

They alleged Chief Ndlovu was aligned to MDC-T vice-president Thokozani Khupe.

“These alleged Guptas have gone on to sponsor parallel structures in Bulawayo and Manicaland, the intention being to consolidate and position themselves favourably with the top party leadership so that they can run for Parliament in 2018,” an insider said.

Gutu described the allegations as factional and bizarre being paddled with the aim of derailing preparations for the 2018 elections.

“These are fictional and bizarre allegations that will make a very good storyline for an action-packed fiction movie. We know that Zanu PF is not sleeping while they try to infiltrate us and cause another split. The good news is that this will not happen. We are going into the 2018 elections as a solid and united political party under the able and charismatic leadership of Tsvangirai,” he said.

Ndlovu, Khupe and Mundiya could not be reached for comment yesterday.