by Tafanana Kwedu

In a surprising new twist, the MDC-Alliance has intensified efforts to prop up the Acting MDC-T President Dr Thokozani Khupe to win the presidency of her party at the upcoming congress, a source has said.

Khupe will be competing with Douglas Mwonzora, MDC-T Secretary General, Elias Mudzuri and Morgen Komichi, the Acting National Chairperson at the party’s pending congress.

The source said it was resolved at a recently held MDC-Alliance National Standing Committee (NSC) that the party should capitalise on the squabbles within MDC-T and work with Khupe as she is a weaker candidate and gullible compared to the other candidates.

“Mwonzora and potentially other candidates are stronger and even more qualified than Khupe.  If any of them especially Mwonzora wins the MDC-T presidency; MDC-Alliance will have a torrid time.

“So if Khupe wins, it will be easy for MDC-A to work with and manipulate her. A team of four experienced MDC-Alliance members have since been selected to work with Khupe and eventually join hands with her,” the source said.

The source added that the grand plan for the MDC-Alliance is to eventually work with Khupe and he said the MDC-Alliance President, Nelson Chamisa is amenable to this plot.

“Once Khupe wins MDC-T presidency, MDC-Alliance wants to bury the hatchet and re-unite with her under one party,” the source said adding that the plan has Chamisa’s blessings considering that there are 21 court cases likely to be worn by Khupe including the one that might see MDC-Alliance being banned from using the name MDC.

The source further revealed that during a Bulawayo Provincial Administrative committee meeting held last week in Bulawayo, Provincial Chair, James Sithole confirmed the development buttressed by Khupe’s attendance of Mbuya Chamisa’s funeral recently.

“Sithole said Khupe’s attendance at Gogo Chamisa’s funeral is an indication that she is still willing to work with the MDC-Alliance and is not a difficult person,” the source said.

Sithole revealed that Mwonzora was making unilateral decisions without consulting Khupe and the later was actually mobilising some party members to pass a vote of no confidence on the former.

“It is Mwonzora who is actually recalling MPs from parliament and not MDC-T and Khupe is not amused by this, hence she is now pushing for the suspension of Mwonzora for the breach of party protocols.

“On 21 July, 2020, the MDC-T will hold a National Council Meeting to remove Mwonzora from his current position to an ordinary card carrying member,’ said the source.

In recent months, MDC parties have been on each other’s throat, pointing to further disintegration of the party, the late Morgan Tsvangirai built.