‘Nigeria helps Britain fund Zim’s opposition’

HARARE – Nigeria is being used by Britain as a conduit to bankroll Zimbabwe’s main opposition in a bid to unseat president Robert’s Mugabe’s government in next year’s legislative elections, a state-owned paper said yesterday.

The Sunday Mail reported that Nigeria, through its diplomats in Harare, had promised the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) at least 200 million Zimbabwe dollars (about US$36 million) for the March 2005 electoral campaign. The promise reportedly was made at a meeting between top MDC officials, including its leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Nigerian embassy officials in the capital on July 28.Under Zimbabwe law, political parties are prohibited from accepting funds from foreign donours.The MDC rejected the allegations, denying ever meeting Nigerian officials in Zimbabwe.”The allegation is completely without any merit,” said MDC spokesman William Bango.- Nampa-AFPThe promise reportedly was made at a meeting between top MDC officials, including its leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Nigerian embassy officials in the capital on July 28.Under Zimbabwe law, political parties are prohibited from accepting funds from foreign donours.The MDC rejected the allegations, denying ever meeting Nigerian officials in Zimbabwe.”The allegation is completely without any merit,” said MDC spokesman William Bango.- Nampa-AFP