…Declares Support for Chamisa

By Lionel Saungweme| ANALYSIS|  Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) Bulawayo Provincial Chairman, Gift Banda, and his Provincial Administrative Committee have declared that they “are 100% behind Acting President Advocate Nelson Chamisa in line with the National Council resolution that he takes over the reins following the untimely passing of the late President Morgan Richard Tsvangirai. ”

The declaration comes after Dr Khupe declared that she does not recognise the National Council’s appointment of Hon. Chamisa as the party’s Acting President.

Dr Khupe’s faction is alleged to have rallied Western ambassadors against the Hon. Chamisa and to have portrayed him as a coup leader. However, Dr Khupe’s faction will not say that they were evicted from the MDC-T offices in Bulawayo after violently seizing it on 4 March 2018. They will also not reveal that MDC-T National Organising Secretary Abednigo Bhebhe called for a bhora musango (electoral sabotage) at an Ibhetshu Likazulu meeting in Bulawayo on 2 March 2018. As if this was not enough, Norman Mpofu, a former legislator and staunch supporter of MDC-T Vice President, Dr Thokozani Khupe, posed a rhetorical question: “After the Buhera debacle where not only Thokozani (Khupe) was insulted and threatened but the entire Mthwakazi members … should we allow Chamisa to come address Mthwakazi at Plumtree?”

That 11 out of 13 districts, called for the dissolution of the MDC-T Matabeleland North Provincial Administrative Committee, which is aligned to Dr Khupe, means Dr Khupe is bolstered by hope that can only be described as forlorn. She probably believes too much of her own rhetoric. According to Provincial Secretary Mxolisi the 11 districts are comprised by more than 90% Ndebele members. “Khupe cannot therefore raise the ethnic argument,” said Ndlovu.

Besides, Dr Khupe has suffered a series of political losses. Towards, the end of 2017 for instance, Dr Khupe suspended Matabeleland South Provincial Chairman, Solani Moyo also known as Njemnyama (Black Dog) from the party. However, the late President Morgan Tsvangirai emphatically nullified Black Dog’s suspension in writing. Tsvangirai further to embarrassed Dr Khupe by pointing out the legal flaws in the letter of suspension.

Also, on16 March 2018, using a High Court order, a Justice Takuva evicted Dr Khupe and her faction from the Bulawayo party offices. Furthermore, a statement by Gift Banda, on the same day that Bulawayo Province is “100% behind Acting President Advocate Nelson Chamisa” points to Dr Khupe’s continued loss of political turf.

In addition, on 14 March 2018, a fight over party funds disbursed under the Political Parties Finance Act (PPFA) broke out. Justice Ministry Permanent Secretary, Virginia Mabhiza acknowledged receiving a letter from Dr Khupe requesting US $1.8million, owed to the MDC-T under the PPFA, to be deposited in her faction’s preferred bank account.
However, a statement by Hon. Chamisa’s Spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka’s seemingly crushed Dr Khupe’s hopes.

“Disbursement under the Political Parties Finance Act is not done to individuals, but to institutions. And the MDC as an institution has just received its money from Government. Government does not deal with individuals, but with institutions. The institution as led by President Chamisa has already received part of its share,” Tamborinyoka’s statement read in part.

So important is the control of funds that PPFA funds released to MDC-T Treasurer, Theresa Makone towards the 2014 congress, were allegedly used to bribe delegates to win the Secretary General’s post for Douglas Mwonzora. The rumour is rife partly because party funds have not been audited since Makone’s tenure was given fresh impetus at the last congress. The move by Tamborinyoka is therefore strategic and futuristic.

The very fact that the MDC-T National Council, Provincial Councils and District Councils have shown confidence in Hon. Chamisa means Dr Khupe’s influence was always a perception. The reality is that party organs did not heed Dr Khupe’s publicised call for a congress in March 2018.

Lastly, if rally attendance is anything to go by, Dr Khupe stands no chance against Hon. Chamisa. On Sunday 4 February 2018, the MDC-T Alliance held a rally at Huruyadzo Shopping Centre in Chitungwiza. The rally attracted thousands of supporters in attendance. On the same day, the anti-Alliance lobby had a rally at Cowdray Park. MDC-T Organising Secretary, Abednigo Bhebhe allegedly organised a football match to show up his rally attendance. As is seen in the picture, not more than a hundred-people attended.

Another MDC Alliance rally took place on 18 March 2018 at Mkoba Stadium in Gweru. Partisan journos pegged the attendance figures of the packed-like-sardines crowd at an exaggerated 60 000. However, MDC-T Zvishavane Senator, Lilian Timveos gave a sober comment. “Sunday’s rally had the highest number of people I have ever seen since the formation of the party,” she said. To counter the Mkoba rally, Dr Khupe and her anti-Alliance lobby held a meeting at the Bulawayo Amphitheatre on the same day. While most of Dr Khupe’s supporters came from Bulawayo, others were transported in old-fashioned Suka Sihambe buses from as far as Gwelutsena, which is some 210kilometres north of Bulawayo. In the end journos gave a paltry 500 as the estimated attendance for the Amphitheatre, which has a capacity of 1200 people. As is seen in the pictures of the Amphitheatre gathering, there were many empty chairs.

Therefore, if the adage that politics is a game of numbers is anything to go by, the attendance at the Hurayadzo Shopping Centre and Mkoba Stadium rallies is instructive. Dr Khupe is simply not in the game.

To borrow the words of Bob Marley in his legendary song War, Khupe’s dream of being president of the MDC-T “will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued but never attained.”