By Lerato Ndlovu
Former MDC Alliance official Lilian Timveous who jumped ship to join the ZANU PF party from the MDC-T has responded to her former Party Secretary General on allegations of having dumped the party and joined ZANU PF in order to keep in her possession a parliamentary.
In a tweet by MDC A Secretary General Charlton Hwende he stated that they received a resignation letter from Timveous three weeks ago but did not make it public.
“Three weeks ago we received a resignation letter from Mrs. Timveous which we accepted,” he said. “ Her major reason was that Mai Mnangagwa had promised to help her retain the vehicle she received when she was a senator, Mr. Chebundo has joined Zanu PF from the Mwonzora group. We wish them well.”
To support him in the same thread Muzvare Betty Makoni said it is clear that they are monetary reasons causing them to leave and this is going to be a trend due to poverty.
“Have a backup leadership as this is going to be a trend now with poverty hitting these leaders very hard. Its clearly monetary reasons, its poverty hitting them very hard, but even though how can one sell morals.”
In response Timveous said she decided to walk away after serious consideration after some actions by some members and concluded that the MDC Alliance had nothing tangible to offer.
“Hwende may fool people who do not know him but not me and all members in the Standing Committee and Members of Parliament who know that he is the one who destroyed that party single handedly. He is the reason why I made the decision I made.
“No one in the party knows how the party funds from the political parties Finance Act before given to the MDC T disappeared since the death of the late Morgan Tsvangirai. He knows well that I was a Deputy Treasurer General in name and he controls everything and my former boss David Coltart was abused, insulted and demeaned at every Standing Committee meeting by him.
“Hwende knows that he fights everyone in the party. I was one of the major financiers of the party for many years and the Midlands Province stood for many years because of my financial donations to the party.” she said.
She also stated that many standing committee members have been abused and cried on several occasions due to abuse by Hwende ganging up with Amos Chibaya, Clifford Hlatswayo, Obey Sithole, Murisi Zvizvai and Happymore Chidziva. Nelson Chamisa never reprimanded him.
Timveous who inherited a fortune from her late husband, said she has many properties and vehicles in Zvishavane and across the country and has no need for a senatorial car if ever it was to be taken away.
“My reason for resigning from the MDC Alliance was not that the First Lady promised me that my senatorial car will not be seized to be demeaning and a lie by an evil person in the MDCA who will destroy that party until there is nothing to talk about.
“I am a businesswoman owning several shops in Zvishavane who has properties all over the country and have no need of a car since I started driving different sort of cars for decades. I have got more than 5 cars and I am a woman of means,” she said.
“Hwende is the one who approached Douglas Mwonzora begging him to save his car.”
MDC Alliance responded by saying they respect the right of Senator Timveous and Mr. Chebundo to freely associate with a party of their choosing. They remain focused on championing the cause of the people , being a voice for the masses and winning Zimbabwe for change under the able leadership of Nelson Chamisa.
