Is Elizabeth Tsvangirai now playing kingmaker too?

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s wife Elizabeth Macheka reportedly played a key role in the promotion of Nelson Chamisa to vice-president of the party, the State-controlled Herald reported today.

It said though Chamisa was promoted together with Elias Mudzuri, the elevation of Mudzuri was to placate him and to keep him in check.

Tsvangirai last week promoted Chamisa and Mudzuri to vice-presidents joining Thokozani Khupe to have three vice-presidents.

An official of the MDC-T is reported as saying the appointments were unconstitutional as vice-presidents have to be elected.

Tsvangirai can only appoint the deputy secretary general, the deputy treasurer general, the deputy national organising secretary and the deputy national spokesperson, the official said.

The Herald said Chamisa’s appointment was due to pressure on Tsvangirai from party big-wigs who are financing his cancer treatment.

Tsvangirai disclosed last month that he is suffering from cancer of the colon and is undergoing chemotherapy in South Africa.

It named those footing Tsvangirai’s medical bills as Charlton Hwende, Murisi Zvizvai, James Gumbi and Takanai Mureyi.

The appointment of Chamisa and Mudzuri is said to have irked some in the top leadership of the MDC-T including party spokesman Obert Gutu.

If indeed, Elizabeth was involved, this raises questions as to whether she is now playing kingmaker too as First Lady Grace Mugabe is doing in the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Font.

Though Grace has publicly stated that she has no presidential ambitions, she is literally running the so-called G40, a group of Young Turks led by Saviour Kasukuwere.

She has also openly challenged Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

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