Khupe’s MDC-T to contest as MDC Alliance in by-elections
MDC-T acting chairman Morgen Komichi announced that with immediate effect the party will be called MDC Alliance.
However, the name MDC Alliance has been used by Nelson Chamisa since the 2018 harmonised elections.
The announcement by Komichi signals an intention to use the MDC Alliance name when nominating candidates for by-elections on October 9.
Komichi was speaking at MDC-T 21st anniversary at the Party Headquarters in Harare on Saturday.
Responding to the announcement by Komichi on Twitter, the Chamisa led MDC Alliance said:
We are the MDC Alliance. We contested the 2018 election as the MDC Alliance under the Presidency of @nelsonchamisa. Our members were unlawfully recalled on account of being members of the MDC Alliance. This battle will be settled politically.
Political power lies in the people. pic.twitter.com/rFNapbFUnF
— MDC Alliance (@mdczimbabwe) September 19, 2020
The announcement by Komichi confirms reports carried by NewsDay in July this year that the Thokozani Khupe lead MDC-T was targeting the MDC Alliance name.
Khupe’s faction, which seized control of the MDC Alliance headquarters Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House with the assistance of police and army in May, has recalled several parliamentarians and clandestinely received $7,5 million from the government under the Political Parties Finances Act.
At the time Khupe’s spokesperson Khalipani Phugeni claimed that the Chamisa faction was infringing on their rights by using the name MDC Alliance, adding that the MDC-T would soon move to stop the practice.
“They are infringing our rights using the name MDC Alliance. We are going to assert our rights on the name very soon. The MDC Alliance is a pact that we entered into with seven other political parties and as MDC-T, we are the major partner in that agreement and those using that name are violating our rights,” he said.
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