support since inception (though prior to independence it was considered more as a liberation movement than as a political party). Indications are that it continues to benefit from foreign funding and other support, despite the ban on foreign funding following the introduction of the Political Parties (Finance) Act [Chapter 2:11] of 2001. ZANU (PF) has never convincingly denied that it continues to enjoy foreign funding and other support4. The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)5 has also enjoyed considerable foreign funding and other support since inception, although now in the light of the prohibition of foreign funding, it is unclear if it continues to receive that support. Chances are that it still does. Masunungure states that public funding of political parties is a new concept in Africa and that the continent lags behind other regions of the world in the proportion of countries that have provision for public funding. He suggests that the relative absence of public funding in respect of emerging multiparty democracies in Africa is a reflection of the extent to which the transition programmes towards multiparty democracy are directed and dominated by ‘incumbent authoritarian rulers’ who have no shortage of financial resources. As far as such rulers and their ruling parties are concerned, public funding of political parties, which also benefits the opposition parties, would amount to propping up the opposition while eroding the advantages that incumbency confers6. In the Southern African Development Community (SADC), about half of its members provide for public funding of political parties. In Angola, political parties represented in the National Assembly receive public funding. Similarly, in Namibia public funds are allocated to parties in the National Assembly, and in South Africa public funds are allocated to political parties currently represented in national and provincial legislatures. Political parties in Malawi benefit from public funding if they receive more than 10% of the vote in an election, while those in Zimbabwe benefit from public funding if receive at least 5% of votes cast in a general election. In Lesotho, public funding is provided to political parties to cover campaign expenses (half the funds are allocated to registered parties and shared equally amongst them, while the other half is distributed to each party in proportion to the number of candidates fielded. In Mozambique, one-third of the public funding is allocated 4 See for instance Coltart, “A Critique of the Broadcasting Services and the Political Parties (Finance) Acts”, 2001, http://davidcoltart.com/?cat=37 (24/09/09). 5 In this position paper ‘the MDC’ refers to both formations of the MDC. At the time that the current Act was adopted, the MDC was still one party and took a common position as regards the financing of political parties. The Consultant is not aware if any of the now two formations have since assumed a different position on the matter. 6 Masunungure, “The Regulation of Political Parties in Zimbabwe: Registration, Finance and Other Support”, position paper prepared for the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), 2006, pp.18-19. 5