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Reports say less than 10 people attended the meeting that was expected to bring together hundreds of Zimbabweans in the United Kingdom and Ireland to mobilise resources for the party ahead of the watershed elections this year.
The meeting, scheduled for Wicken Village Hall in Cambridge, was organised by the MDC leadership in UK in conjunction with Friends of Zimbabwe, a grouping of representatives from most of the countries that imposed illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe.
This was after MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai had reportedly circulated an e-mail around the UK requesting for money for elections.
Political observers yesterday said the flop was an indication that the party, which is facing a backlash from its traditional Western financiers and supporters back home, was fast losing grip in the political landscape.
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They said the MDC-T had lost steam in and outside the country with diasporans now fearing their hard earned cash would, as usual, be squandered by some corrupt elements in the party.
MDC-T sources said the meeting was attended by less than 10 people, who included the party youth leader and Mr Tsvangirai’s cousin Custon Matewu.
The sources said members snubbed the fundraising gig, accusing the party leadership back home of converting the money to their personal use.
Some members were reportedly tired of “false promises” against deportation made by Co-Home Affairs Minister Theresa Makone and MDC-T organising secretary Mr Nelson Chamisa who last year claimed that they had convinced a top British minister not to deport Zimbabweans staying there.
The two told the British Minister that Zimbabwe was not a “safe haven” even for ministers.
But British authorities this year intensified deportation of alleged Zimbabwe asylum seekers arguing they do not qualify for the status.
Online Reporter