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Nduduzo Tshuma Senior Reporter
MDC-T Bulawayo East legislator Thabitha Khumalo yesterday confirmed her ambition to be the party’s provincial chairperson saying she had been asked by members to represent them. Khumalo also dismissed allegations that she was working with the party’s deputy national Morgen Komichi to topple MDC-T vice president Thokozani Khupe at the party’s congress slated for October.
The congress was initially set for 2016, but will now be held in October as party leader Morgan Tsvangirai seeks to assert his authority and leadership following a challenge to his presidency that saw him parting ways with senior party members who include Tendai Biti, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo and Elton Mangoma.
“I have been asked by the people of Bulawayo to represent them as their chairperson so I don’t have any plans to topple anyone,” said Khumalo.
MDC-T acting Bulawayo provincial chairperson Dorcas Sibanda, Senator Matson Hlalo and Bulawayo deputy Mayor Gift Banda are also eyeing the provincial post.
Gorden Moyo resigned as the party’s provincial chairperson and is now a member of the MDC Renewal Team.
At the time of his resignation, Moyo claimed he would remain an ordinary party member and MP for Makokoba not aligned to any of the two factions battling for control of the beleaguered party but the Biti group has since appointed him to head its diaspora and international relations committee.
Khumalo, who in 2011 lost the MDC-T’s vice presidency to Khupe, said people had asked her to contest for the Bulawayo provincial chairperson’s post. She said she is no longer interested in the vice presidency.
“In 2011, I came out in the open about my ambitions and I have not declared anything of that sort this time. If I had any intentions, I would have said so myself. I do not have a spokesperson, if I have something to say, I say it myself.
“I do not know where these self-appointed spokespersons of mine are getting all that from. The people of Bulawayo said after the victimisation I have suffered in the party, I deserve to be their leader.”
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