Khupe takes swipe at her detractors and state media

By Tichaona Sibanda
30 March 2006

The MDC vice-president under Morgan Tsvangirai, Thokozani Khupe, has reacted with anger at suggestions in media reports that a rally scheduled for the 9thApril in Bulawyo now hangs in the balance following problems over her elevation to the top post.

The Bulawayo based newspaper The Chronicle, quoting unnamed sources, alleged that mounting problems over Khupe’s election to the post of vice-president has created many problems for the party in the region.

Reacting to the story a fuming Khupe hit back; ‘What is clear from all this is that I am now a powerful and influential politician in Zimbabwe and certainly some people, including the Chronicle don’t like that.’

Khupe said what her detractors had to learn was that power is not derived from individuals but is derived from the people and general membership of the party who voted her vice-president.

‘I know who is behind all this, it’s those three boys who are not happy and they should all go and jump into a lake and leave me alone,’ she said.

Khupe remained adamant that the rally, which will be used to introduce her as the vice-president of the anti-senate camp, would go ahead on the 9th April at the White City Stadium.

She was also critical of the state media, describing the attacks on her by the newspapers as working to her advantage because of the publicity.

‘What they don’t know is that in their attempt to demonise me, they are actually promoting me, propping up support for our party because many people didn’t know that I was the new vice-president of the MDC until they read negative reports about me in the Chronicle,’ She said.