Brand new MDC T president Douglas Mwonzora Khupe To Fight Mwonzora’s Presidency has denied reports that he is being funded by the ruling party to decimate the opposition especially the faction led by Nelson Chamisa, New Zimbabwe reports.

According to the publication, Mwonzora was speaking during his maiden press conference as the party’s president yesterday when he said he was not on the government’s payroll:

I am not on the payroll of Zanu PF. I don’t need to be on the payroll of Zanu PF at all,” the former MDC-T secretary-general told journalists.

This is what opponents that are trying to discredit you do. I do not become a member of Zanu PF because I disagreed with you. Those people who are accusing me know for certain that I am not Zanu PF but people do these things as part of mudslinging.

So we will be addressing that and you will see for yourself whether I am Zanu PF or not. I am now the leader of this party and the direction that this party will take will answer these questions.

He further added that the party doesn’t have to insult the opponent to be considered an effective opposition when he said:

In January, we will be appointing a shadow cabinet, our (shadow) ministers will be interacting with ministers in the government as part of shadowing.

Opposition parties work with the ruling party, it’s the nature of the relationship. Our relationship will be non-toxic. We don’t believe that in order to be an effective opposition, we must be insulting the opponent.

We believe you can be effective even if you are factual, non-insulting. Our leadership will not be insulting anyone.

Mwonzora won the disputed MDC T congress on Sunday after beating rivals Khupe, Mudzuri, and Komichi by huge margins. During the party’s 21st anniversary celebrations Mwonzora said he has been arrested numerous times and that shows he was not in bed with the ruling party.

More: New Zimbabwe