Zimbabwean MP Job Sikhala has backtracked on claims that the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) received money from Ghana, Nigeria and Taiwan, Zimbabwe’s Herald Online reported on Friday.
It said this came amid reports that the MDC MP was under pressure from his party to withdraw his remarks to stave off a police probe.
Earlier this week, Sikhala said the MDC received illegal funding amounting to $2,5-million (about R16-million) from Ghana, Nigeria and Taiwan.
The back-out, said Sikhala on Thursday, followed a strong denial from Ghana’s President John Kufuor who said he had no such ties with the opposition party.
”As I later got clarification over rumours circulating in the party from President Kufuor’s office that nothing like that had happened, I felt it wise and intelligent to accept the explanation thereof.”
Sikhala said he had not been threatened by anyone to go back on what he had said.
”Nobody ever intimidated me. Through anger, one would speculate that rumours circulating were fact. My wish was for these people [the MDC ‘top six’] to talk to each other, and I am happy that efforts are being made.”
MDC leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai has since written to The Herald seeking a retraction of the story based on Sikhala’s earlier statement.
Police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena said law enforcement agents would not investigate Sikhala, but the MDC.
”The issue does not need Sikhala anymore. We will pursue other avenues to find evidence. We understand that he [Sikhala] could be under pressure from his party to retract his statement.”
Whatever he says now is immaterial. Whether his party puts him under pressure, we are not investigating him. We are investigating the MDC,” he said.
Receipt of foreign funds contravenes the Political Parties Finance Act of Zimbabwe. – Sapa