By Paul Nyathi|Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T is planning to use somewhat disgruntled MDCT Vanguard youth militia commander Shakespeare Mukoyi as their key witness in the case against rival MDCT leader Nelson Chamisa
The Khupe faction wants to drag Mukoyi to the court following his revelations in the weekend media that he was approached by Chamisa’s allies to effect leadership change in the party before the death of founding President Morgan Tsvangirai.
He further claimed that the party leadership had blessed their activities that included the unleashing of violence on Dr Khupe and her allies.
A delighted Khupe’s deputy, Obert Gutu told the state run Chronicle newspaper that they have the Chamisa-led outfit where they want them.
“Since the Supreme Court said our case can go for trial, this is a good development for us. We have these guys where we want them to be,” he said.
“We are going to approach the courts to have Mukoyi testify in court and reveal what they did in view of his confession. We will call him our star witness as you know that in terms of the law, we can subpoena him. We will subpoena him to reveal the truth.”
The two factions are involved in a court battle over legitimacy and the use of the MDC-T name and logo.
Gutu said his group feels vindicated in the wake of Mr Mukoyi’s revelations.
“We have been saying this all along that Chamisa is illegitimate and we have been subjected to a barrage of attacks and insults with Dr Khupe actually being assaulted,” he said.
“At last the chickens are coming home to roost. Now the truth is coming out from right within their ranks.”
In the wide ranging interview, Mukoyi said:
“During the time when Tsvangirai was on his deathbed, my brother (Charlton) Hwende and other leaders approached me saying the situation was bad and the party needed new leadership.
“They told me that the work that they were about to do had to be done by the youth assembly, especially the Vanguard, which they are now dismissing as thugs today. We fought to bring sanity in the party until we had this hierarchy that we are having today.
“I feel betrayed that they say the Vanguard is bad, yet they are the ones who were behind the operations of the Vanguard. This is bad. Maybe, as leaders they have their wisdom to say that, but I don’t think that is right.”
Mukoyi is enmeshed in a messy fight for the right to represent Kuwadzana East constituency in the forthcoming parliamentary elections with MDC-T deputy Treasurer, Hwende.
Primary elections in the constituency were aborted over the weekend after both candidates made counter claims of violence and intimidation against each other.