The Sunday Mail
THE US, Britain and Australia are bankrolling “People First” led by Dr Joice Mujuru, with indications that over US$2 million has so far been set aside to prop up the project.
She released her Blueprint to Unlock Investment and Leverage for Development (Build) “manifesto” last Monday, whose wording analysts concur reflects the hand of Western governments and donors.
People First insiders said Dr Mujuru and ex-MP Mr David Butau left the country on Monday for South Africa where she met a mining tycoon and Mrs Graca Machel ahead of visits to other Sadc countries to try and get support.
Investigations by The Sunday Mail show Dr Mujuru has gained favour with the US, which is pouring in money through Usaid. The US lost faith in MDC-T after repeated electoral failures.
However, it is understood Washington does not believe Dr Mujuru and fellow opposition elements will beat Zanu-PF in the 2018 elections.
Instead, the US wants to create a “vibrant” opposition that might temper Zanu-PF’s resource nationalism.
People First functionary Mr Rugare Gumbo denied receiving US funding, saying: “I wonder where the hullabaloo is coming from because that’s all lies.”
This publication has gathered that outgoing US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Bruce Wharton, who is set to join the US department of state, is co-ordinating the People First project with an initial budget of US$2 million.
Part of the US$2 million has been used to pay consultants who cobbled together Build, while some is being used to buy vehicles for districts and provincial structures that they hope will be established in the next two weeks.
Most of the money is being channelled via local-based corporations (names supplied) that run cash businesses and previously funded Dr Mujuru’s putschist cabal before its leading figures were dumped from Zanu-PF and Government between late 2014 and early 2015.
Because foreign funding is prohibited by the Political Parties (Finance) Act, the companies mop-up cash from their weekly businesses and hand it over to People First.
The companies are paid back through offshore accounts in the US, Britain and Australia with the deposits masked as loans, investments or returns on investments.
Another avenue Western governments are using to send money is churches rather than their traditional NGOs.
Information at hand shows that the US and European governments have cut ties with several local NGOs, many of them under the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition banner, due to alleged abuse of funds.
Dr Mujuru has for years been America’s preferred route to infiltrate Zanu-PF, and on December 6, 2009 she secretly met then US Ambassador Charles Ray at his residence, according to leaked confidential communications from America’s Embassy in Harare.
The documents, made public by whistle blower website Wikileaks, read: “No CIOs were present and Joice Mujuru also doubled as a hospitality matron: the Vice-President had managed to shed all of her (presumably CIO-infiltrated) security. She herself poured tea. The meeting was friendly and respectful; at the end Mujuru said she would like to meet again and continue the conversation . . .
“Mujuru . . . wanted to ensure that the meeting with the US ambassador was private and undisclosed. Zanu-PF government officials normally will not meet with us unless a request has been made to the MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). The MFA then schedules the meeting and sends a note taker.
“Through a Mujuru advisor, David Butau, we requested an informal meeting to better establish a relationship and facilitate an exchange of views.”
Dr Mujuru’s allies have in recent months been exposed to have benefited from funds availed by the US Ambassador to Zimbabwe as well as Mr Eric Little, who was revealed to be a CIA spy based at the embassy in Harare.
These include Mr Temba Mliswa, Butau, Enock Porusingazi and Simbaneuta Mudarikwa.
Contacted for comment, US embassy spokesperson Karen Kelly said: “The US government through its diplomatic mission in Harare fully supports democratic processes in Zimbabwe, not political parties or personalities.”
