Vice president of the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T, Obert Gutu, asserted that the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) interlocutors are not being motivated by the desire for filthy lucre.
Gutu was responding to reports that members of POLAD are lining up their pockets with taxpayers’ money in allowances for attending POLAD meetings. Said Gutu:
POLAD isn’t there to milk taxpayers’ money for the corrupt and personal benefit of particular individuals. POLAD is a national programme that is open to all political parties that fielded presidential candidates in the 2018 harmonised elections.
The notion that some of us are in POLAD in order to line our pockets is utterly false, ridiculous, malevolent and mischievous. We are not paid any allowances for attending POLAD meetings.
Some media reports have claimed that POLAD interlocutors have come up with a US$80 million to cater for their allowances and accommodation when they attend meetings.
POLAD was initiated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa soon after the disputed 2018 elections but notable politicians have snubbed it, chief among them being MDC leader Nelson Chamisa who won close to 50 per cent of presidential votes.