They were allegedly threatened with closure if they did not provide the funds. According to documents made available to The Zimbabwean some paid as much as $20,000 each while others in the wildlife conservation business were forced to contribute about 10 animals each, which were eaten during the congress.
The congress gobbled nearly $8 million dollars – most of it reportedly extorted from the the corporate sector through fear. Masvingo Chairman of the fund-raising sub-committee, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, confirmed that they receive huge sums of money from the corporate world, but denied that the funds were raised through fear and victimisation.
“No one was forced to give funding or any material support,” he said. But sources within the ruling party said youths and war veterans were dispatched to several companies and threatened them with closure if they did not contribute. “We had teams comprising war veterans and youths going around looking for donations,” said a highly placed source. “In most cases we received reports of threats and intimidation by the teams and the party is aware of this.”
Topping the list of donors were Tongaat Hullet and Bikita minerals, which contributed $20,000 each and Chiredzi farmers who contributed $15,000. Zimbabwe Bio Energy, in which business mogul Billy Rautenbench has shares, gave 10 impalas and 600 litres of fuel. An unnamed company in the wildlife business contributed 10 buffaloes.
Post published in: News