TSVANGIRAI'S MONUMENTAL BLUNDER: Khupe Miffed By VP Appointments
Published: 2016 July 17 12:34:20 (6379 Views)
MOVEMENT for Democratic Change president Morgan Tsvangirai made a monumental blunder when he promoted two members to the presidium as vice presidents without consulting his deputy Thokozani Khupe who has since distanced herself from the shock appointment of Ellias Mudzuri and Nelson Chamisa as her other vice-presidents.
Yesterday Khupe refused to comment on the matter saying her boss Tsvangirai was better placed to comment on the matter - something which Khuphe has never done before.
Khupe, a long-time lieutenant of the former trade unionist, now appears highly unlikely to take over from Tsvangirai if he exits the scene.
Although Tsvangirai claimed he wanted to strengthen the party’s leadership ahead of the 2018 elections, but there is speculation he is preparing to exit the scene after announcing last month that he is suffering from colon cancer.
“If you want any comment on that issue [new VP’s], can you please talk to Morgan Richard Tsvangirai,” Khupe said after leading MDC-T supporters in a demonstration dubbed #beatthepot held in the streets of Bulawayo.
The announcement of Chamisa and Mudzuri’s appointments was done at Tsvangirai’s Harare residence with only his wife Elizabeth and spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka flanking him at the table.
MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora is outside the country and missed both the national executive and council meetings that recommended the expansion of the presidency.
However, close sources say Tsvangirai wanted to stem the growing factionalism in the party as senior leaders were jostling to succeed him and as some had even unofficially spoken to Zimbabwe People’s First about an alliance.
“Tsvangirai’s confidence in his lieutenants like Khupe and Mwonzora was waning as speculation grows that they are privately talking to Joice Mujuru about a coalition,” a close source said.
MDC-T spokesman Obert Gutu said he was not in the picture about the development since he was away in Victoria Falls when the national council meeting was held.
“I will touch base with the party when I’m back in Harare on Sunday [today] on the developments. I am currently away at the Law Society Winter School,” Gutu said.
Tamborinyoka was not reachable for comment.
Kent University law lecturer and former Tsvangirai adviser Alex Magaisa said the decision might have been influenced by the need to contain factionalism in the party.
“It could be that creating a triumvirate of vice-presidents is a political balancing exercise in the MDC-T succession race, as the leader tries to manage the ambitions of competing candidates and their factions,” Magaisa wrote.
He added that the appointment of Chamisa and Mudzuri was meant to contain factions in the party.
“Probably because they are the two more popular succession candidates who were not in the top echelons of the party. Far from promoting factional interests and fortunes of either man, these appointments may be aimed at containing them,” Magaisa added.
MDC-T Bulawayo senior provincial leaders are reportedly planning to hold an urgent meeting to discuss Tsvangirai’s decision.
Party officials in the city revealed that they were not happy with Tsvangirai’s move, and have started deliberating on the way forward.
- The Standard
Yesterday Khupe refused to comment on the matter saying her boss Tsvangirai was better placed to comment on the matter - something which Khuphe has never done before.
Khupe, a long-time lieutenant of the former trade unionist, now appears highly unlikely to take over from Tsvangirai if he exits the scene.
Although Tsvangirai claimed he wanted to strengthen the party’s leadership ahead of the 2018 elections, but there is speculation he is preparing to exit the scene after announcing last month that he is suffering from colon cancer.
“If you want any comment on that issue [new VP’s], can you please talk to Morgan Richard Tsvangirai,” Khupe said after leading MDC-T supporters in a demonstration dubbed #beatthepot held in the streets of Bulawayo.
The announcement of Chamisa and Mudzuri’s appointments was done at Tsvangirai’s Harare residence with only his wife Elizabeth and spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka flanking him at the table.
MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora is outside the country and missed both the national executive and council meetings that recommended the expansion of the presidency.
However, close sources say Tsvangirai wanted to stem the growing factionalism in the party as senior leaders were jostling to succeed him and as some had even unofficially spoken to Zimbabwe People’s First about an alliance.
“Tsvangirai’s confidence in his lieutenants like Khupe and Mwonzora was waning as speculation grows that they are privately talking to Joice Mujuru about a coalition,” a close source said.
MDC-T spokesman Obert Gutu said he was not in the picture about the development since he was away in Victoria Falls when the national council meeting was held.
“I will touch base with the party when I’m back in Harare on Sunday [today] on the developments. I am currently away at the Law Society Winter School,” Gutu said.
Tamborinyoka was not reachable for comment.
Kent University law lecturer and former Tsvangirai adviser Alex Magaisa said the decision might have been influenced by the need to contain factionalism in the party.
“It could be that creating a triumvirate of vice-presidents is a political balancing exercise in the MDC-T succession race, as the leader tries to manage the ambitions of competing candidates and their factions,” Magaisa wrote.
He added that the appointment of Chamisa and Mudzuri was meant to contain factions in the party.
“Probably because they are the two more popular succession candidates who were not in the top echelons of the party. Far from promoting factional interests and fortunes of either man, these appointments may be aimed at containing them,” Magaisa added.
MDC-T Bulawayo senior provincial leaders are reportedly planning to hold an urgent meeting to discuss Tsvangirai’s decision.
Party officials in the city revealed that they were not happy with Tsvangirai’s move, and have started deliberating on the way forward.
- The Standard
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