The under siege Vice President of the Movement for Democratic Change, Thokozani Khupe, has scoffed at state media allegations which say her “plan to topple party leader Morgan Tsvangirai has failed”.
In an exclusive interview with ZimEye.com, Khupe responds to the state media reports, gives her position on the appointment of two more VP’s and her views on the role of women in politics.
Damning allegations against Khupe which have also been doing rounds on social media are that she had forged an alliance with the People First leader, Joice Mujuru who would be President in an alliance set up in which Khupe herself would deputise the former Zanu PF leader.
Khupe is alleged in the weekend state media reports, to have secretly forged an alliance with Mujru and was behind the scenes in the donor community discrediting Tsvangirai on the basis of recent health challenges he is struggling with.
Speaking exclusively to ZimEye, Khupe said: “I don’t have any comment. All l can say is that God is the only one who knows who is doing what and who is not doing anything. Let them dream on.”
The state run paper claimed that Khupe planned to use stolen records of Tsvangirai’s health to discredit him to the donor community.
It alleged saying “sources said Ms Khupe allegedly met Mr Jesse Louis Jackson, a once Democratic presidential nomination candidate and an American civil rights activist in Morocco where she told him that Tsvangirai was sick and could not lead the party.”
It went further to make damning allegations against the former trade union leader, Khupe, “They held a secret meeting in South Africa without the president’s knowledge with Mujuru together with the Swedish government officials and they agreed on a plan to make Mujuru the presidential candidate and the Swedish government was persuaded to give money for Tsvangirai’s retirement.”
It further alleged quoting an unnamed MDC source; “Khupe held a meeting in Morocco with Rev Jessie Jackson where she told him about Tsvangirai’s weaknesses which include being fond of women and that he was ill. The Rev went on to report the issue to the state department and the president (Tsvangirai) was told by someone working in the state department.”
Khupe however, did not respond to ZimEye’s questions as to whether she had traveled to Morocco recently, but on her relationship with Tsvangirai she said, ” I don’t have any problem with the President.
“I will always support him at the same time l want things done in the letter and spirit of our founding values that is what ever we do as a party must be done democratically and constitutionally.”
Tsvangirai much to the chagrin of many who have respected him as a grounded democrat, recently unilaterally appointed two more Vice Presidents to the party leadership, bulldozing their endorsement through party leadership weeks later. A nonchalant Tsvangirai addressed hundreds of party supporters in Masvingo yesterday flanked by the three Vice Presidents, who now include Nelson Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri. On the appointments Khupe cautiously responded; ” I don’t have any comment like l said what ever we do as a party must be done democratically and constitutionally.”
When asked about the challenges faced by women in politics like herself Khupe told ZimEye, ” Women must unite and fight for their spaces in the political arena and that women must be treated with dignity and respect just like any other person.”