Thokozani Khupe to ditch Makokoba

MDC-T Deputy president Thokozani Khupe is planning on dumping her Makokoba constituency in Bulawayo for rural Nkayi deeming it a safe haven, reports indicate.

She has a newly built homestead in Nkayi.

The deputy premier has been Makokoba MP since 2000.

However, Khupe's popularity in Makokoba has been waning with members accusing her of dictatorship, reports say.

This week, 84 MDC-T members in Makokoba including senior officials defected to the rival MDC.

However, the 84 are now being hunted down by their former colleagues for defecting.

Last month Khupe shunned a rally in Makokoba where she was due to give a keynote address but only to surface at another rally in Siganda, Nkayi.

Said sources within MDC-T: "Speculation around Khupe planning to stand in Nkayi has been doing the rounds since late last year."

"What is fueling it is that she has not attempted to dispel the rumours,".

But Khupe, said she cannot stand in Nkayi as that "would destabilise the area as there is a candidate who is already campaigning there."