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Farirai Machivenyika-Senior Reporter
The ZiG70 million budgeted by Government for political parties that met the 5 percent threshold in last year’s general elections is being shared between Zanu PF with almost ZiG48 million and CCC with just over ZiG22 million under the Political Parties (Finance) Act.
The CCC share will be paid to the faction of the party led by Professor Welshman Ncube, with its secretary general Senator Sengezo Tshabangu as leader of the opposition in Parliament.
The law stipulates that political parties that receive more than five percent of the vote in a general election share the State funding. No other party in last year’s elections came close to that threshold.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi made the announcement yesterday under General Notice 1377 of 2024 in the Government Gazette.
After giving the total as ZiG70 million, Minister Ziyambi said Zanu PF with 68,404 9 percent of the vote would receive ZiG 47 883 500 and the CCC with 31,595 percent of the vote would receive ZiG22 116 500.
The Prof Ncube-led CCC faction will receive that party’s share after secretary general Sen Tshabangu was recognised as the leader of the opposition in Parliament against rival factions led by Mr Jameson Timba and Mr Promise Mkwananzi who had previously approached the Government for a share of the State funding.
The Government promulgated the Political Parties Finance Act and created a route for State funding for larger parties that could achieve a reasonable turnout in general elections to give them a boost on what they were already raising from members and other fund raising.
The provision of State funding also backed the ban on parties receiving funding from foreign governments and organisations as part of covert operations to achieve regime change.
Political parties can now receive lawful funding through Government grants under the Act, the sale of party cards, fundraising activities, and from their members.
Online Reporter