All Systems down for Khupe
The ZanuPF aligned faction of the Movement for democratic change led by Dr Thokozani Khupe is battling to get the numbers needed for an extra ordinary congress. According to the Supreme court judgement the congress should be held by the 31st of July 2020 with no room to go beyond that date. Getting the court judgment was easy but getting all leaders of the 2014 structures to attend the extra ordinary congress is proving to be more than tough.
As we reported earlier in the week many who were approached have given the faction a cold shoulder. In Harare the faction had hoped to bring in the youth assembly members with Shakespeare Mukoyi leading the recruitment campaign. Several former youth members were approached by the Kuwadzana based Khupe faction member with promises of positions in the Standing Committee. A former youth ward chairman based in Mbare told our paper the former Vanguard leader come to him with lots of promises. ‘The issue is not about positions or money but getting Zimbabwe free, I have no time to join another party I have a home already. Greediness is the reason why we are here today and still an opposition’.
In Epworth some officials and a Harare City Councillor have defected to the new outfit after meetings with the Hatfield legislator Tapiwa Mashakada who has since thrown his weight behind Dr Khupe calling her the real President. The exact number of those who have joined from Epworth is not so clear as some put the number at 7 but Dangwe News was not able to independently verify due to the secretive nature of the deflections.
Despite the show of confidence in public the team is sweating behind the scenes with reports saying Morgan Komichi admitted in recent meetings the impossible task of bring even 1000 people. Recently there were reports the party wanted to postpone the Congress but was warned against doing so by legal expert Lovemore Madhuku. A staffer close to Morgan Komichi who is working flat out to make the Congress a success said there is a real crisis with numbers. Douglas Mwonzora suggested bringing in outsiders to make up a good crowd a move that was shoot down by Elias Mudzuri. ‘We are moving ahead with Congress preparations but we never anticipated such a huge snub from our structures. Many are now scared this will turnout to be another Stanley Square disaster of 2018 when Thokozani Khupe failed to make up the numbers.’
Meanwhile the recalling of members of Parliament and Senators is a strategic idea to force other legislators to defect to Khupe team something that is failing to happen. Dangwe News understands many more MPs will be recalled in coming days. There is a list making rounds at Harvest House which includes Tendai Biti, Joana Mamombe, Caston Matewu and Job Sikhala.Dangwe News has not yet independently verified the names as members of the new party kept throwing different names with some indicating Tendai Biti and Job Sikhala are still safe.
Is the economic situation and Coronavirus pandemic giving you sleepless nights? There are increased cases of insomnia world over Zimbabwe is in the basket also, please take time to watch the clip on ways to avoid depression as insomnia is bad for your mental health.