By Lionel Saungweme | In a major political setback for embattled Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) Vice President, Thokozani Khupe, the MDC-T Matabeleland North Provincial Administration Committee (PAC) has been dissolved. Thirteen District committees, which make up the Matabeleland North Provincial Executive and Committee met, at Cross Dete near Hwange, yesterday and dissolved PAC. The move by the districts renders Khupe weak in a province she boasted as her own.
Article 6.9.1.9 of the MDC-T Constitution states that “there shall be a Provincial Administrative Committee of the Province which shall be Chaired by the Chairperson of the Province and whose other members shall be;
(a) The Deputy Chairperson
(b) The Provincial Secretary and Deputy Secretary
(c) The Provincial Treasurer
(d) The Organising Secretary and Deputy Organising Secretary
(e) The Secretary for Information and Publicity
(f) The Secretary for Elections
(g) Chairperson and Secretary of the Provincial Assembly of Women
(h) The Chairperson and Secretary of the Assembly of Youth.”
The same article further states that “the Provincial Administrative Committee shall be responsible for the day to administration of the Province and shall report to the Provincial Executive and shall have no right to make any policy or executive decision.”
The PAC is therefore a strategic committee, which before its dissolution was comprised mostly by members who are loyal to Khupe. Known hardcore Khupe loyalists such as Hon Lwazi Sibanda and Betty Thwala were among the affected.
“MDC-T is now being labelled a violent party. Our PAC members are always involved in the violent skirmishes in Bulawayo,” said Matabeleland North Provincial Secretary, Mxolisi Ndlovu.
“Our members in this province have been implicated several times in violent disturbances. They destabilise Bulawayo Province for the benefit of Khupe. That behaviour, which tarnishes the image of the party must come to an end,” said Ndlovu.
Intra party clashes broke out in Bulawayo between supporters of Hon Chamisa and Khupe on 4 March 2018. Twelve party members, including the MDC-T Bulawayo Provincial Chairman, Gift Banda, were arrested and charged with public violence in a case that has come to be known as the MDC-T Dozen. The public including Western diplomats have condemned the violence, which has prompted the Bulawayo MDC-T Provincial Executive and Committee to issue an apology to party supporters.
“In addition, if you examine the members comprising the thirteen districts, you will realise that about 98% of the members are Ndebele. So Khupe cannot now raise her tribal arguments because her puppets have been booted out by real Ndebele people,” said Ndlovu.
Relationships have soured since the death of MDC-T President Morgan Tsvangirai on Valentine’s Day. Khupe has been given acres of space by the state media to attack MDC-T Acting President Nelson Chamisa. In one interview with The Herald Khupe stated “Tsvangirai dies and you go on with a meeting to appoint yourself as leader. How shameful!”
With the breakdown in relationship, Khupe has been holding meetings in Matabeleland North province. She has been rallying women in what is suspected to be either a bhora musango (electoral sabotage) or preps for the formation of a new political party.
The dissolution of PAC should therefore come across as Khupe’s waterloo as her foot soldiers have effectively been stripped of authority. The ramifications are that Khupe can no longer legitimately reach out to MDC-T structures in the province without breaching protocol.
At a rally held in Nkayi on Friday 9 March 2018, Khupe hinted that she will not allow the PAC to be dissolved. However, yesterday’s meeting by the 13 districts out rightly defied her.
“We have come to this situation because people tell lies about VP Khupe. They are saying bad things about her to tarnish her politically. She is a good person,” said Hon Lwazi Sibanda.