Liberation movements within the SADC region are reportedly funding the Zanu (PF) election campaign after the party indicated to its former partners in the trenches that it was too broke to fund another bruising election campaign, senior party officials have exclusively revealed to The Zimbabwean on Sunday. <
In addition, the Libyan government, an influential member of the African Union, through its maverick unelected leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, is funding the Zanu (PF) election by donating tractors for use in Mashonaland West province.
Both SADC and the African Union are guarantors of the global political agreement, GPA, which ushered in the coalition government of the main Movement for Democratic Change led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Zanu (PF) and the smaller MDC faction now led by Welshman Ncube.
The developments have cast SADC and the AU, especially the regional group as insincere to the regions attempt to bring to an end, the political and economic crises facing Zimbabwe. It is not clear if the assistance package, which is reported to include money and vehicles is coming from the political parties or from the governments. However, most governments in Southern Africa take instructions from ruling parties.
The Zimbabwean on Sunday was told by senior Zanu (PF) officials that the party had already started taking delivery of vehicles and party insiders say of the 50 double cab trucks that have arrived, a majority of them originated in South Africa while the origins of other vehicles is not known. These revelations could be potentially embarrassing for South African President Jacob Zuma who is the SADC appointed mediator in the Zimbabwean crises who is also president of the ruling African National Congress.
This is more so at a time when Zuma himself is working on a roadmap for Zimbabwes next elections. All we have been told is that the vehicles and other forms of support have come from sister liberation movements or governments. The vehicles are being stored at several secrete places and will be deployed when campaigning begins, another senior Zanu (PF) official said.
Zanu (PF) has over the past few years worked hard to ensure that former liberation movements formed an association to share common values. Under the Political Parties Finance Act, it is illegal for parties to receive foreign funding, a law which Zanu (PF) has flagrantly violated over the years.
Post published in: News