Thokozani Khupe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President of the Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai | |
| In office 15 February 2018 – December 2020 Disputed with Nelson Chamisa | |
| Preceded by | Morgan Tsvangirai |
| Succeeded by | Douglas Mwonzora |
| Vice-President of the Movement for Democratic Change | |
| In office November 2005 – 15 February 2018 | |
| President | Morgan Tsvangirai |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe | |
| In office 11 February 2009 – 13 August 2013 Serving with Arthur Mutambara | |
| President | Robert Mugabe |
| Prime Minister | Morgan Tsvangirai |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Member of Parliament for Makokoba | |
| In office March 2000 – 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Sithembiso Nyoni |
| Majority | 8,450 (50.8%) |
| Secretary for Transport of the Movement for Democratic Change | |
| In office 2000–2005 | |
| President | Morgan Tsvangirai |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Paurina Mpariwa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 November 1963 Makokoba, Southern Rhodesia |
| Political party | Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai (until 2022) Citizens Coalition for Change (since 2022) |
| Residence(s) | Bulawayo, Zimbabwe |
| Profession | Trade unionist |
Thokozani Khupe (born 18 November 1963) is a Zimbabwean politician, trade unionist and CCC party member. She was Deputy Prime Minister 2009–13.
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]
- ^ "MDC-T name, symbols, logo fight: Chamisa wants Khupe interdicted – DailyNews Live". dailynews.co.zw. Archived from the original on 9 August 2018.
- ^ Staff Reporter (21 April 2018). "Khupe elected MDC-T President". The Zimbabwe Mail. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
- ^ "Khupe Says Mwonzora Not Legitimate Leader of MDC-T".
- ^ "Mwonzora to recall Khupe from Parliament over split". 24 January 2022.