Ousted MDC-T deputy spokesman's woes mount

FORMER MDC-T deputy spokesperson and Bulawayo East MP Thabitha Khumalo's woes continue to mount with party insiders saying she is likely to lose her seat in parliament as well as her positions in organisations where she is deployed as the party's representative.

Insiders say moves are firmly underway to oust her as operations committee chairperson of Jomic, from the Parliamentary Standing Rules and Orders Committee where she is a committee member and the Sadc Parliamentary Forum where she sits on the committee on HIV/Aids.

Khumalo was fired as deputy spokesperson last week amid reports of factionalism and infighting in the MDC-T's Bulawayo provincial structures where she is fighting with deputy party leader Thokozani Khupe.

"The battle is much serious than we thought," said a party insider. "They are now moving to destroy her career in the MDC-T once and for all through a series of measures."

Contacted for comment MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora could not deny nor confirm there were moves to further demote Khumalo.

"Khumalo remains a founding member of the party; however there is an ongoing restructuring exercise where members will be moved from one position to another," he said.

Outspoken Khumalo has never been far from controversy and challenged Khupe for the deputy presidency at the party's congress in Bulawayo last year.

However, disgruntled MDC-T party officials say Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai not helping matters by alienating colleagues who helped him launch the party in a move to give the MDC-T intellectual and technocratic fibre.

"It is unfortunate Tsvangirai has roped in people who are opportunists and have departed from the founding principles of the party," said a disgruntled party official.