Mpariwa replaces Khupe as leader of opposition
MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora has appointed the party’s secretary general Paurina Mpariwa as the new leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.
Mpariwa replaces former party deputy president Thokozani Khupe who was recalled from the National Assembly early this month.
Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda announced the development shortly before the August House began business on Tuesday.
“I also have to inform the House that I have received communication from Hon. Sen. Douglas Togaraseyi Mwonzora, President and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament advising that Hon. Paurina Mpariwa is now the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and consequently, Hon. Tekeshe becomes the Opposition Chief Whip, with Hon. Lwazi Sibanda as Deputy Chief Whip in the National Assembly,” Mudenda said.
The Mwonzora led party recalled Khupe from the National Assembly earlier this month alleging Khupe had expelled herself from the party after announcing a breakaway MDC-T formation on January 20.
Khupe had been initially suspended from the MDC-T on grounds of “bringing the party into disrepute” but she immediately announced that she was breaking away as Mwonzora had become a “centre of constitutional transgressions.”
Khupe later told media at a press conference that she was stunned to receive communication from Parliament on the 26th of January to the effect that she had been recalled alongside her ally, Nomvula Mguni.
“To my surprise on the 26th of January 2022, I received a letter from the Speaker of Parliament through a courier, FedEx which was delivered to my house in Bulawayo together with my colleague Nomvula Mguni to the effect that we had been recalled and we were no longer Members of Parliament,” Khupe said.
“I have never heard in the history of Parliament a member being recalled through a letter sent to their home by FedEx at a time when Parliament is not in session. Parliament will be resuming in a fortnight and you shudder to think why the Speaker of Parliament was in such a hurry to recall me by a letter he wrote whilst sitting in his office and sending it through FedEx,” she continued.
“That is unprocedural. My understanding of Parliamentary operations, is that the Speaker derives his powers from the mace when he is sitting on his chair in the House of Assembly and in the presence of seating Members of Parliament because the mace is the symbol of authority of the House and the Speaker. Without the mace the House cannot sit and pass laws.”
Khupe had only been in Parliament for a little over 18 months after she was sworn in as a proportional representative Member of Parliament in October 2020 at the time she was MDC-T interim leader.
On her part, she had caused the recalling of MPs loyal to Nelson Chamisa following a Supreme Court ruling that dislodged Chamisa from the party’s leadership.
But the honeymoon between Khupe and Mwonzora would soon end before it truly begun.
The frosty relationship between the former Zimbabwe deputy prime minister and Mwonzora spilled into the public during 2020 December extraordinary congress (EOC) where Khupe along with Elias Mudzuri and national chairperson Morgen Komichi lost the presidency election to Mwonzora in an election marred with violence.
She walked out in protest accusing Mwonzora of rigging the elections.
However, in January, Mwonzora offered the three losing officials an olive branch and appointed Thokozani Khupe as the first VP, Mudzuri second VP and Komichi as the national chairperson.
Khupe initially declined the offer insisting she did not recognise Mwonzora as the MDC-T president before later accepting the role.
