Thokozani Khupe has said the government must not take sides in the MDC-T factional fights like what happened in the past when it “supported Nelson Chamisa” at her expense.
The former deputy prime minister and Makokoba legislator is embroiled in a power struggle with Mwonzora who suspended her for a cocktail of issues including dining with Nelson Chamisa’s MDC Alliance, a rival to the MDC-T.
Khupe, however, held a presser in Bulawayo on Friday where she declared that she was the party leader, on an interim basis adding, however, that the party had “officially split.” She expressed fears that the government would take sides in the matter. Khupe said:
I would like to conclude by emphasising that today the 21st day of January 2022, the MDC-T has two formations.
I am therefore pleading with other political parties; as the MDC-T, I am calling on Parliament, a legislative organ of the state, to desist from taking sides as well as local government, it happened before, and it must not happen again.
At the same time, I am calling on the ministry of Justice to be fair and just in dealing with our matter.
Her spokesperson, Ntando Ndlovu, Friday spoke on Khupe’s remarks and explained what she meant by claims that the government took sides in the past amid claims by some that she meant the government assisted MDC-T to dismantle MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa. Ndlovu said:
The Parliament and Justice ministry should not side with Mwonzora as they did with Chamisa against Dr Khupe in 2018 when she was recalled.
The Parliament has not been fair on how it dealt with the dispute between Dr Khupe and Chamisa. In 2018, Parliament dismissed her letter in which she had notified it to stop considering Chamisa’s intention to recall her, and she was subsequently recalled.
The Justice ministry also went on to allocate funds under the Political Parties (Finance) Act to Chamisa after she had advised that the party did not qualify for the funds. That is the partiality that she was referring to and that it must not happen again in this case.
This comes amid allegations that the state is sponsoring turbulences in the opposition party.
Some political analysts say the ruling party does not create but only capitalises on squabbles in the opposition.
More: The Standard