Khupe's Fractious MDC-T Faction Risks Implosion - Analyst
MDC-T Harare Province’s nomination of Mwonzora for party president ahead of the Supreme Court-ordered Extraordinary Congress (EOC) raises a few questions.
Is the issue of gender and tribalism alive in the MDC-T, considering that Khupe, a woman from Bulawayo Province didi not get a single vote?
Davis Laque, a political analyst attempts to make sense of the shifting power dynamics within the fractious opposition party. Below is his commentary:
A few things came to mind after seeing this [MDC-T Harare Province’s nomination of Douglas Mwonzora for President].
Firstly, it’s quite telling that Dr Khupe, a whole Acting President doesn’t get a single vote in a key Province like Harare. What can we read from this? Does it raise the gender and tribalism question again, in MDC politics?
Secondly, seeing that the MDC-T EOC will not be held on the 31st as demanded by Supreme Court Judgement, why carry on with nominations?
What happens if Dr Khupe doesn’t get a single nomination before the EOC? Does this dilute her power and create 2 or 3 centres of power?
Thirdly, in line with the Supreme Court ruling, who is currently in charge of the MDC-T? Without another court ruling, Dr Khupe’s reign ended on the 30th of June! Sen Komichi’s reign ends on the 31st of July! So who’s in charge now? and who will be in charge from August 1st?
Fourthly (although extremely unlikely), what happens if the Supreme Court decides against the extension of these MDC-T 2014 structures terms of office?
Whereas unlikely, should it happen for some strange reason, what happens then? Will the constitutionalists defy such a ruling?
Fifthly [laugh out loud], elect a new President at the EOC and then what? Since everyone else has their current position pending an elective Congress, what happens to Dr Khupe if she is defeated? How will her “allies” accommodate her? What does it mean for her POLAD shenanigans?
Lastly, are we being too quick to count out Dr Khupe? Recall [Thokozani Khupe’s spokesperson Khaliphani] Phugeni said she was approaching the courts to specifically have her tenure extended!
Are Tsikamutanda, Mudzuri and others in favour of that? As more nominations come through, will this faction heal in time?
