by Senior Political Reporter
Acting MDC T, Dr Thokozani Khupe has hinted that she is ready to deputize Douglas Mwonzora in the event that he wins that party’s presidency at the Extra Ordinary Congress (EOC) slated for this Saturday.
Khupe hinted this at a mobilization meeting held at Mutare Central District Organizing Secretary Sebastian Chitungo’s residence in Sakubva, Mutare over the weekend.
A contact who spoke to this publication said Khupe hinted that she had no problem with being the Vice President of the MDC T.
“Khupe is now aware that Mwonzora is likely to win the presidency as he commands much respect among the 2014 party structures. When she was in Mutare over the weekend, she got a reality check when she was told that people are in support of Mwonzora’s presidency. She is now considering being Mwonzora’s deputy with the hope that one day she will ascend to the helm of the party again,” said the contact.
The contact went on to say that the race to the MDC T presidency has become a two men race pitting Mwonzora and Khupe as other candidates have fizzled out and are now trying to throw spanners in a bid to have the EOC postponed.
“The race is now between Mwonzora and Khupe. However, I’m optimistic that Mwonzora will win because he has much grassroots support. Other contestants like Morgan Komichi and Elias Mudzuri are now out of the race as they have little support among the party structures. I would urge these two men not to contest in order to avoid an embarrassing defeat,” added the contact.
The contact further revealed that Mwonzora had already tipped that party’s acting spokesperson, Dr Tapiwa Mashakada to be the next Secretary General in the event that he wins the presidency.
According to the same contact, Khupe is also busy lining up his team in the event that she wins the top post. Khupe is believed to fhave earmarked Komichi and Mudzuri as her deputies. Gift Chimanikire is earmarked for the National Chairmanship while Mwonzora will remain the Secretary General.
The contact further revealed that there were dirty plots within the MDC T with Komichi being accused of working with that party’s founding member, Leonard Chisvo to have Mwonzora arrested for trumped up charges. The move has been viewed as an attempt to foil his presidential bid.
Komichi is now believed to be in support of the expelled Organizing Secretary Abdenico Bhebhe’s urgent High Court application which seeks to halt the EOC. During yesterday’s National Standing Committee meeting, Komichi suggested that the EOC be postponed to the end of this month, ostensibly to allow Bhebhe’s court application to be finalized.
The contact further said that the EOC was going ahead.
Meanwhile, the congress has been decentralized into five regional centers across the country due to COVID 19.
Harare, Chitungwiza and all members form the Mashonaland Provinces will meet in Harare, while those in Bulawayo and Matebeland Provinces will meet in Bulawayo. Members in the Midlands Province will meet in either Gweru or Kwekwe while those in Manicaland will be in Mutare.Masvingo Province will be in Masvingo.
The EOC is going to be presided over by members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU), with the Union’s Deputy Secretary General Thomas Masvinge leading the process. The acceptance by the ZCTU to preside over the MDC T’s EOC has been seen by others as a sign that the Union has dumped the MDC Alliance in favour of the MDC T.
