Movement for Democratic Change Alliance explained

Movement for Democratic Change Alliance
Leader:Douglas Mwonzora
Foundation:6 August 2017
Ideology:Social democracy
Position:Centre-left
Country:Zimbabwe
Leader1 Title:Deputy
Leader1 Name:Elias Mudzuru
Abbreviation:MDC-A
Seats1 Title:National Assembly

The Movement for Democratic Change Alliance is an electoral coalition of seven political parties formed to contest Zimbabwe's 2018 general election.[1] After the 2018 election, a dispute arose over the use of the name MDC Alliance leading the MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa to found the Citizens Coalition for Change.

History

Three of the member parties were splinters from the original Movement for Democratic Change and each other. The bloc was formed to contest the 2018 election. The MDC Alliance was led by Nelson Chamisa[2] who replaced Morgan Tsvangirai as President of the MDC-T after Tsvangirai died on the 14 February 2018 after a long fight against colon cancer.[3] On 30 July 2018, the alliance went head to head with the Emmerson Mnangagwa-led ZANU–PF in Zimbabwe's historic elections. The alliance was narrowly edged by ZANU–PF in the presidential election, with Mnangagwa receiving 50.8% of the vote to MDC Alliance's Nelson Chamisa's 44.3%. The election results have received international attention as possible fraud.[4]

After the election, the three member parties who were splinters of the original MDC (MDC-T, MDC-N and PDP) reunited to form a single political party under the name MDC-Alliance.[5] Nelson Chamisa was elected president of the party at the MDC Congress held in May 2019.[6] On 28 May 2020, the court ruled that MDC-A was a legal party.[7]

In September 2021, Douglas Mwonzora, the leader of a splinter faction of the MDC-T, announced that the MDC-T would use the name MDC Alliance in forthcoming by-elections.[8] [9]

In January 2022, Chamisa founded Citizens Coalition For Change.[10] [11] [12] [13] He is backed by Welshman Ncube[14] and Tendai Biti.[15]

Member parties

Electoral history

Senate elections

Notes and References

  1. https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/zimbabwe-mdc-alliance-formed/3974172.html Zimbabwe Opposition Launches MDC Alliance Ahead of 2018 General Elections
  2. Web site: Munhende. Leopold. 2020-06-16. Zimbabwe: Chamisa Dumped By Storm Trooper Leader Shakespeare Mukoyi for Khupe. 2020-07-02. allAfrica.com. en.
  3. News: Moyo. Jeffrey. Cowell. Alan. 2018-02-14. Morgan Tsvangirai, Longtime Foe of Mugabe in Zimbabwe, Dies at 65. en-US. The New York Times. 2020-07-02. 0362-4331.
  4. News: A crackdown in Zimbabwe exposes the instability of the Mnangagwa regime. August 9, 2018. The Economist.
  5. Web site: Chamisa names Ncube, Komichi as deputies, MDC re-unites. September 11, 2018.
  6. Web site: Zimbabwe opposition MDC party elects Nelson Chamisa as leader. www.aljazeera.com.
  7. Web site: MDC Alliance a party: Court. 28 May 2020.
  8. Web site: Chamisa loses MDC Alliance name to Mwonzora. 29 August 2021.
  9. News: Zimbabwe: 'Respect Us' - Mwonzora Warns Chamisa over Use of MDC Alliance Name. New Zimbabwe . 3 September 2021. Njanike . Ndatenda .
  10. Web site: Chamisa's MDC Alliance Rebrands To Citizens' Coalition For Change – Pindula News.
  11. Web site: Breaking News: Chamisa Rebounds With New Party Name. Elia. Ntali. January 24, 2022.
  12. Web site: BREAKING: Chamisa announces new party name - Citizens Coalition for Change. Gambakwe. Media. January 24, 2022.
  13. Web site: Newsday. 2022-01-24. Chamisa party rebrands. 2022-02-08. NewsDay Zimbabwe. en-US.
  14. Web site: Khupe pushes CCC, Chamisa – DailyNews.
  15. Web site: Biti Romps to Victory – ZimEye.