Zanu PF, MDC war chest boosted by State funds

Zanu PF, MDC war chest boosted by State funds

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By Staff Reporter

ZIMBABWE'S government on Monday dished out more than a US$1 million to the country's two main political parties as part of the annual grant they are entitled to under law.

State radio cited Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa as saying the ruling Zanu-PF party received about Zim$3,3 billion (US$530 000) while the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) got Zim$3,1 billion.

Under the country's Political Finances Act, a political party has to have a minimum of five percent of the total parliamentary seats to qualify for the State funding.

The MDC has slighly more than 30% of the total parliamentary seats in the 150-strong legislature, dominated by the governing party.

Zimbabwe holds parliamentary elections on March 31 in which President Robert Mugabe's party aims to further consolidate its nearly 25-year-old stranglehold on power.
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