Mwonzora Spent $2 Million For 'Flopped' Rally
The MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora reportedly forked out ZWL$1.5 million for the launch of the party’s 26 March by-elections campaign at Zororo Grounds in Highfield, Harare, last Saturday.
The rally was attended by a sparse crowd despite the party hiring 20 buses at a cost of ZWL$75 000 each, to transport supporters and sympathisers to the venue.
According to a quotation seen by The NewsHawks, on 11 February, Mwonzora was charged ZW$75 000 per Hino bus by Mak Trans Logistics that trades as Makuku Bus Services, to transport MDC supporters “from constituencies around Harare to Zimbabwe Grounds”.
Mwonzora also reportedly spent almost ZWL$500 000 in hiring a public address system and on other logistics.
The owner of the buses, Tsikirirai Makuku, confirmed providing transport for the MDC-T.
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He however added that in the end, he provided less than 20 buses because some are contracted to the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO).
MDC-T officials told The NewsHawks that other transporters were engaged to ensure there were adequate buses.
Reports suggested that the MDC-T rally attracted less than 1 000 people but the party denied that its rally had flopped, claiming instead that 5 000 people attended.
At its zenith, under founding president Morgan Tsvangirai and later Nelson Chamisa, the MDC attracted tens of thousands of supporters at its rallies, especially in Harare and other urban centres.
