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It is understood that the MDC-T risked losing a significant number of its members, especially in South Africa and Britain, who spearheaded the campaign for the formation of ZIMEDC that was launched on August 27 2010 at McDonald Swimming Pool in Mt Pleasant.
A top MDC-T official in the finance committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Sunday Mail last week that ZIMEDC would be managed by a board of trustees appointed by the party’s leadership.
“The formation of ZIMEDC is still in its infancy, but the blueprint says the company will be domiciled in South Africa under the name ZIMEDC South Africa. The directors for the company will comprise a lawyer, a chartered accountant and other individuals of high public standing.
“According to the blueprint, MDC-T will hold 50 percent shareholding in the company, with investors holding 40 percent while ZIMEDC directors will hold 10 percent shareholding.
“An initial investment of R100 million has been proposed,” said the official, adding that MDC-T’s contribution to the initial investment will come from “donations from supportive organisations”.
However, the MDC-T spokesperson, Mr Nelson Chamisa, yesterday said: “I am not aware of what you are talking about.” He added that his party believed in a broad-based economic empowerment initiative.
Mr Chamisa said the initiative cannot be launched without the party’s fund-raiser, Roy Bennett, who is out of the country. Impeccable sources within the party said Bennett has been given the task to “urgently hunt for new investment friends” that are ready to support this initiative”.
The sources said due to this investment initiative, Bennett would not be coming back to the country “anytime soon” and because of the important part he is playing, the MDC-T is prepared to put the inclusive Government into disarray for his sake. However, the MDC-T official hinted that the issue about the appointment of the board of trustees looks set to cause rifts in the party as some of the party’s top officials “are being accused of lining up their boys for jobs”.
Online Reporter