MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has vowed that his rival Thokozani Khupe will not be allowed to take over leadership of the party despite the High Court declaring his elevation null and void.

Justice Edith Mushore last week ruled that the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai violated the party’s constitution after he appointed Chamisa and Ellias Mudzuri as his deputies in 2017.

Chamisa used the appointment to outsmart both Khupe and Mudzuri to take control of the party.

Khupe yesterday declared that she was preparing to take over from Chamisa and lead the party to an extraordinary congress as ordered by the court.

However, a defiant Chamisa told party structures in Gweru on Friday that the MDC’s congress at the end of the month would seal Khupe’s fate.

“We went to elections as the MDC Alliance,” he said. “Khupe went to elections with her party MDC Thokozani (MDC-T).

“It is unthinkable that she can now come to our party to take it over.

“A man from next door cannot come to your house and take over your wife and start eating and staying inside.

“So, Khupe is our sister, she can come to Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House (MDC headquarters) , but only as a visitor.

“Her fate in MDC is on our agenda at the congress. That is where it will be decided, then we part ways formally.”

Khupe said she had already met MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora to discuss the court ruling and was eager to talk to Chamisa on the way forward.

Chamisa accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government of interfering in the party’s internal processes.

He said after the congress set for May 23 and 24, the party would step up pressure on the government and force Mnangagwa to negotiate with the MDC to solve the country’s economic and political crisis.

-The Standard