Khupe bids farewell to her Makokoba constituency

Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe yesterday bade farewell to her Makokoba constituency, saying she was already preparing to be the Vice President of the country and people should pray for a smooth power transfer process.

The MDC-T leader told a rally to pray for peace during the forth coming election at Stanley Square, that the poll would be a mere formality for her party.

"Let us all pray for peace, let us pray to have a free and fair election and let us pray that when we vote, we will be voting in an environment that is peaceful and voting without fear or intimidation. The upcoming election is a mere formality for the MDC-T. It is a delayed match. I am already the VP (Vice President) of this country, but we should keep praying so that there is peace after we win the elections," she said.

Khupe will not seek re-election for the Makokoba seat, instead she says she is now a national leader and will not contest on local elections. The statement by Khupe that she was now preparing to be Vice President of Zimbabwe could also be seen as an effort to swat suggestions that in the event of a coalition, she should relinquish the vice-presidency.

There are suggestions that in a coalition, she would have to make way for MDC leader Welshman Ncube. Khupe has been included in the MDC-T senatorial seats, allocated through proportional representation.