Movement for Democratic Change – Ncube explained

Country:Zimbabwe
Movement for Democratic Change
Dissolution:2018
Split:Movement for Democratic Change
Merged:Movement for Democratic Change – Alliance[1]
Leader:Welshman Ncube
Ideology:Democratic socialism
Social democracy
Pan-Africanism
Position:Centre-left
Youth Wing:MDC National Youth Assembly
Wing1 Title:Women's wing
Wing1:MDC National Women Assembly
Colours:Green
Website:http://www.mdczim.net

The Movement for Democratic Change  - Ncube (MDC–N) was a Zimbabwean political party led by politician and attorney Welshman Ncube. It was founded in 2005 when the Movement for Democratic Change split apart and in the 2008 general election, it was known as the Movement for Democratic Change – Mutambara (MDC–M) in contrast to the larger Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai (MDC–T). The MDC–N and the MDC–T operated as separate opposition parties until their re-unification in 2018. The re-united party now operates under the original name, the MDC.[2]

Foundation

See main article: Movement for Democratic Change (pre-2005). The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was founded in 1999 as an opposition party to the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party led by President Robert Mugabe. The MDC was formed from many members of the broad coalition of civic society groups and individuals that campaigned for a "No" vote in the 2000 constitutional referendum, in particular the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. The MDC is thus a Social Movement not a political party. It was formed out of a social consensus hence its diverse ideological strands. Social Democracy became a uniting ideology for all the various groups who formed the MDC.[3]

Party Split

Following the 2005 Senate election, the party had internal divisions whether to participate in the Senate or not. There was no consensus in the party's National Executive. The National Council convened in Harare at Harvest on 12 October 2005 and voted for participation after secret ballot.[4] Morgan Tsvangirai did not accept the result decision of the National Council and was finally expelled by the National Council on 6 January 2006.

Inter-formation violence

In July 2006, after attending a political meeting in the Harare suburb of Mabvuku, MP Trudy Stevenson was attacked[5] and suffered panga wounds to the back of her neck and head. The MDC leadership immediately claimed that the attack was carried out by ZANU militants. However, while recovering in hospital, Stevenson identified her assailants as members of a rival faction of the MDC.[6]

2008 presidential election

In the 2008 presidential election, the President of MDC Prof Arthur Mutambara backed Simba Makoni.[7] [8]

2018 election and the re-unification of the MDC

In the lead up to the 2018 Zimbabwean general election, the MDC-N joined an electoral coalition with Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai (MDC–T) and other political parties which was called the MDC Alliance.[9] After that election, the MDC-N, the PDP and the MDC-T re-united under the original party name, the MDC.[10]

Notable party members

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MDC Alliance a party: Court . 28 May 2020 .
  2. Web site: Chamisa names Ncube, Komichi as deputies, MDC re-unites. Lex Vambe. 11 September 2018. 15 September 2019. PaZimbabwe.
  3. Book: Coltart, David . The struggle continues: 50 years of tyranny in Zimbabwe . 2016 . Jacana . 978-1-4314-2318-7 . Auckland Park, South Africa.
  4. Book: Tsvangirai, Morgan . Morgan Tsvangirai: at the deep end . Bango . Tagwirei William . 2011 . Penguin Books (South Africa) . 978-0-14-302682-2 . Johannesburg . 764547445.
  5. Web site: Violet Gonda, Tererai Karimakwenda. MP Trudy Stevenson and three colleagues severely assaulted. Association of Zimbabwe Journalists. 15 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110718153743/http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=622&cat=9. 18 July 2011. dead.
  6. Web site: My head was bleeding profusely, I knew my arm was broken, it was just hanging. Trudy Stevenson. 24 May 2008. 3 July 2008. NewZimbabwe.com. 24 July 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080724223222/http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/senate222.14415.html. dead.
  7. Web site: MDC 'victory' in Budiriro is disastrous . NewZimbabwe.com. 3 December 2012.
  8. Web site: Mutambara withdraws from race, backs Makoni . Newzimbabwe.com . 3 December 2012 . 1 August 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130801030954/http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral155.17759.html . dead .
  9. Web site: Zimbabwe Opposition Launches MDC Alliance Ahead of 2018 General Elections. 6 August 2017 .
  10. https://www.pazimbabwe.com/zimbabwe-48473-chamisa-names-ncube-komichi-as-deputies-mdc-re-unites.html
  11. Web site: Web Desk. People must benefit from local resources: Dube – Zimbabwe Online News. 10 January 2022. en-US.
  12. Web site: Jongwe . Anthony . Zimbabwe: Youth Bemoan Exclusion (Page 1 of 2) . allAfrica.com . 3 June 2011 . 3 December 2012.
  13. Web site: Muzulu . Paidamoyo . Zimbabwe: Ncube Proves His Political Acumen (Page 1 of 2) . allAfrica.com . 13 January 2011 . 3 December 2012.
  14. Web site: The inevitable demise of opposition politics in Zim. 20 September 2021. The Chronicle. en-GB.