A source told NewsDay that MDC-T Vice Presidents Nelson Chamisa and Thokozani Khupe had an exchange of words in Parliament over their sitting arrangement before the party’s third vice-president, Elias Mudzuri, intervened.
The source who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the issue started when Khupe who is the acting president of MDC-T arrived late and found Chamisa sitting in “her place”. Said the source:
Khupe, as leader of opposition in Parliament, arrived a bit late and found Chamisa sitting in her ‘place’. The normal procedure is all MPs are supposed to give Khupe the space she needs so she can sit in her usual position, but on Tuesday, Chamisa flatly refused to move. There was a harsh exchange of words and Chamisa was heard saying ‘I will not be forced to respect anyone. I am not moving’. A sulking and visibly-angry Khupe then retreated to chairs normally reserved for chief whips.
Another source, who witnessed the incident said that Mudzuri later pleaded with Khupe to take her rightful position after Chamisa had briefly walked out of the House. When contacted by NewsDay for a comment, Chamisa said he was not aware of the incident. However, Mudzuri said he arrived after the incident had happened and asked people to settle their differences amicably.
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