Thokozani Khuphe

Thokozani Khupe (born 18 November 1963) is a Zimbabwean politician, trade unionist and the President of the MDC-T breakaway faction of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). She was Deputy Prime Minister 2009–13.

The Honourable
Thokozani Khupe
Senator
President of the Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai
In office
15 February 2018 – December 2020
Disputed with Nelson Chamisa
Preceded byMorgan Tsvangirai
Succeeded byDouglas Mwonzora
Vice-President of the Movement for Democratic Change
In office
November 2005 – 15 February 2018
PresidentMorgan Tsvangirai
Preceded byPosition established
Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe
In office
11 February 2009 – 13 August 2013
Serving with Arthur Mutambara
PresidentRobert Mugabe
Prime MinisterMorgan Tsvangirai
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Member of Parliament
for Makokoba
In office
March 2000 – 2018
Preceded bySithembiso Nyoni
Majority8,450 (50.8%)
Secretary for Transport of the Movement for Democratic Change
In office
2000–2005
PresidentMorgan Tsvangirai
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPaurina Mpariwa
Personal details
Born (1963-11-18) 18 November 1963
Makokoba, Southern Rhodesia
Political partyMovement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai (until 2022)
Citizens Coalition for Change (since 2022)
Residence(s)Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
ProfessionTrade unionist
Websitewww.mdc.co.zw

Following the death of party founder Morgan Tsvangirai in early 2018 Khupe opposed the ascent of Nelson Chamisa as leader of the MDC-T on the grounds that she was the only one of its three Vice Presidents elected by congress, whereas Chamisa and the third vice president Elias Mudzuri had been appointed by Tsvangirai. Khupe was supported by much of the party organization in this, but lost the power struggle to Chamisa; Khupe and her supporters consider their faction the legitimate MDC-T and have continued to use the MDC-T name. They are involved in a court battle with the Chamisa faction over the party name, symbols, logo and trademark;[1] the matter had not been resolved prior to the 2018 general elections and the Khupe faction ran in the elections as the MDC-T while the much bigger Chamisa faction ran as part of the MDC Alliance.

On 22 April 2018, she was elected unopposed as the President of her MDC-T faction at an extraordinary congress in Bulawayo.[2]

In 2020 she was removed from the position of party president by Douglas Mwonzora amid strong claims of violence and cheating from her fans.[3][4]

Education

Born in Bulawayo, Khupe graduated in 1999 from the Turin Centre in Turin, Italy, with a certificate in Information Technology.[5] She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies from the Zimbabwe Open University, Master of Business Administration, MBA from the National University of Science and Technology,[6] and a PhD in Social Studies from the University of Zimbabwe.[7]

Trade union politics

She served as an official of the Zimbabwe Amalgamated Railway Union (ZARU) in 1987. In 1991 she was elected Secretary of the ZCTU Women's Advisory Council and also became a member of the General Council of the ZCTU.[5] In 1999 she participated in the formation of the Movement for Democratic Change party, in which she was elected as a National Executive member responsible for Transport, Logistics and Welfare.

Political career

In June 2000, Khupe was elected as the Member of Parliament for Makokoba Constituency in Bulawayo.[8]

She was a member of the Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee; and on Youth Development, Gender and Employment Creation Committee and was elected Vice Chairperson of the Women's Parliamentary Caucus and became Parliamentary Deputy Chief Whip of the MDC. She retained the constituency in the March 2005 parliamentary election. She is in the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee of Defense, Home Affairs and National Security and that of Budget, Finance and Economic Development.[9]

In the March 2008 parliamentary election, Khupe ran for re-election in Makokoba constituency as the candidate of the MDC-Tsvangirai faction, defeating Welshman Ncube, the Secretary-General of the MDC-Mutambara faction. She received 4,123 votes against 2,475 votes for Ncube.[10]

She was for several years an active member of the African Parliamentary Network against Corruption.[9]

Khupe was Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe from 11 February 2009 to August 2013 in the government of national unity between the MDC-T and ZANU-PF. She was a Member of Parliament for Makokoba constituency before being recalled by her party in 2018 on the grounds that she no longer represented the party's interests.[11]

In 2005 she was elected vice-president of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)[12][13] taking over from veteran trade unionist Gibson Sibanda.[14]

One of her close allies in the Senate of Zimbabwe was Mildred Reason Dube.[15]

In March 2022, Khuphe urged Zimbabweans to vote for Chamisa's Citizens Coalition for Change in that month's by-election.[16]

Electoral history
General Election 2008: Makokoba
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
MDC–T Thokozani Khupe 4,123 50.8 -25.0
MDC-M Welshman Ncube 2,475 37.7 +37.7
ZANU–PF Tshinga Judge Dube 2,002 12.5 -11.1
Majority 1,648 10.2 -26.2
Turnout 16,100
MDC–T hold Swing
General Election 2005: Makokoba
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
MDC Thokozani Khupe 12,120 75.8 -8.9
ZANU–PF Sihle Thebe 3,777 23.6 +10.6
Independent Charles Mpofu 84 0.5 N/A
Majority 8,343 52.2 -19.5
Turnout 15,981 36.4 +0.6
MDC hold Swing
General Election 2000: Makokoba
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
MDC Thokozani Khupe 20,781 84.7 N/A
ZANU–PF Sithembiso Nyoni 3,193 13.0 -51.6
Independent Others 552 2.2 N/A
Majority 17,588 71.7
Turnout 24,526 35.8
MDC gain from ZANU–PF Swing

References
  1. "MDC-T name, symbols, logo fight: Chamisa wants Khupe interdicted – DailyNews Live". dailynews.co.zw. Archived from the original on 9 August 2018.
  2. Staff Reporter (21 April 2018). "Khupe elected MDC-T President". The Zimbabwe Mail. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  3. "Khupe Says Mwonzora Not Legitimate Leader of MDC-T".
  4. "Mwonzora to recall Khupe from Parliament over split". 24 January 2022.
  5. BIZZOTTO. "Success Story: the Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe is a former Turin Centre participant". ITCILO. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  6. "Why not Madam Khupe for MDC-T president?". The Herald. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  7. "Thokozani Khupe graduates with PHD". Bulawayo24.
  8. "MDC-T Byo members attack Khupe – The Zimbabwe Independent". theindependent.co.zw. 22 February 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  9. "Leadership profiles". thezimbabwean.co. 6 April 2006. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  10. "Zimbabwe election results 2008". Newzimbabwe.com. Archived from the original on 5 April 2008.
  11. Dube, Gibbs. "Zimbabwe Opposition MDC-T Recalls VP Thokozani Khupe from Parliament". VOA. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  12. "Zimbabwe enforces price freeze". Tvnz.co.nz.
  13. "Constitutional deal in Zimbabwe". BBC News. 18 September 2007. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  14. "Opposition seeks AU team to monitor Zimbabwe elections". Afriqueenligne.fr. 28 June 2007.
  15. "Khupe reacts angrily to her 'expulsion' as MDC-T leader". The Zimbabwe Mail. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  16. "MDC-T's Thokozani Khupe Urges Zimbabweans to Vote for Citizens Coalition for Change Candidates in Forthcoming National By-elections". Voice of America. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
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