War against Thokozani Khupe escalates

THE campaign against MDC-T vice president Thokozani Khupe escalated yesterday evening when fliers decampaigning her were thrown around the Bulawayo City Council building as she made a shock appearance at a full council meeting.

The fliers, which were quickly picked up by Khupe's alert loyalists, were reportedly thrown by the party's Bulawayo provincial members aligned to the leadership renewal team led by secretary-general Tendai Biti.

Also thrown around the building were copies of a letter that suspended MDC-T deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma wrote to Tsvangirai urging him to step down as party leader.

Khupe attended the full council meeting yesterday and claimed that she occasionally attends the meeting when Parliament is not in session.

"It's not my first time to attend a council meeting. I normally attend when Parliament is not in session," she said.

Party members said that her surprise appearance was to test the waters and gauge her support among councillors.

Khupe angered the Bulawayo provincial party leadership last Saturday when she derailed proceedings at a meeting to suspend provincial chairperson Gorden Moyo, a move that prompted party members to seek audience with Tsvangirai.

Moyo, a Member of Parliament for Makokoba constituency, is believed to be sympathetic to the group aligned to Biti.

Khupe declined to comment on the fliers and the infighting in the party and referred all questions to party national spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora.

A serious fallout in the MDC-T has resulted in two distinct factions that have been suspending and firing members belonging to opposing camps in recent weeks.

Both factions claim they are in charge of the party.