adminSenior Reporter
Government is struggling to pay political parties the $6 million earmarked in this year’s National Budget under the Political Parties Finance Act owing to the cash squeeze.Zanu-PF and MDC-T are entitled to share $6 million proportionately after Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa allocated the money during the 2016 National Budget.
The delay has seen the parties pursuing other alternatives as Government is weighed down by several national competing interests among them salaries for civil servants and importing food in the wake of the El Nino-induced drought.
This has also seen MDC-T falling into salary arrears, with some employees threatening legal action as donor fatigue takes its toll.
While Minister Chinamasa was not available for comment, a senior official in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development confirmed that Treasury was still to disburse the money to political parties.
“We are aware of our obligation to make these disbursements. Once the money is available, we will duly make the payments as you know there is limited fiscal space,” said the official.
MDC-T secretary general Mr Douglas Mwonzora said his party was still to receive its share of the $6 million.
“We have made numerous follow ups, but nothing has come out. In some cases we have been told that we will be paid the following day. The story has been the same that Government has no money,” said Mr Mwonzora.
Online Reporter