Movement for Democratic Change
Leader	Morgan Tsvangirai
Founded	31 September 1999
Headquarters	44 Harvest House, Angwa Street/Nelson Mandela Avenue Harare, Zimbabwe
Ideology	Democratic socialism, Social democracy, Social liberalism, Trade unionism, Centre-left
Official colours	Red and black

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is a Zimbabwean political party. It 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 party split following the 2005 Senate election, with one faction headed by Morgan Tsvangirai and the other by Arthur Mutambara; the two factions subsequently won a combined majority in the March 2008 parliamentary election and announced that they were reuniting in April 2008. Morgan Tsvangirai (Shona IPA: (the s and the v are coärticulated), English ?) born March 10, 1952) is a trade unionist, human rights activist, Democrat and President of the mainstream [1] Movement for Democratic Change, the main opposition party in Zimbabwe. ... Look up September in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... 44 Harvest House also known simply as Harvest House is a six story building in Harare located at corner Nelson Mandela Avenue and Angwa Street it serves as the National Headquarters of the Movement for Democratic Change party in Zimbabwe. ... Motto: Pamberi Nekushandria Vanhu (Forward with Service to the People) Map of Zimbabwe showing the location of Harare. ... This is an overview of the ideologies of parties. ... Democratic socialism advocates socialism as a basis for the economy and democracy as a governing principle. ... Social democracy is a political ideology emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from supporters of Marxism who believed that the transition to a socialist society could be achieved through democratic evolutionary rather than revolutionary means. ... Social liberalism is either a synonym for new liberalism or a label used by progressive liberal parties in order to differentiate themselves from the more conservative liberal parties, especially when there are two or more liberal parties in a country. ... A union (labor union in American English; trade union, sometimes trades union, in British English; either labour union or trade union in Canadian English) is a legal entity consisting of employees or workers having a common interest, such as all the assembly workers for one employer, or all the workers... In politics, the term centre-left is commonly used to describe and denote political parties or organisations that stretch from the centre to the left or are moderately left-wing, as opposed to extreme left wing beliefs such as communism. ... For other uses, see Red (disambiguation). ... This article is about the color. ... A political party is a political organization that seeks to attain political power within a government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns. ... The Parliamentary Opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. ... The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) is a Zimbabwean Socialist party that has been the ruling political party in Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, led by Robert Mugabe, first as Prime Minister with the party simply known as ZANU, and then as President from 1988 after taking... This page contains a list of presidents of Zimbabwe. ... Mugabe redirects here. ... The Zimbabwe constitution referendum of February 12-13, 2000 saw the defeat of a proposed new Constitution of Zimbabwe which had been drafted by a Constitutional Convention the previous year. ... The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions is the dominant central trade union federation in Zimbabwe. ... Morgan Tsvangirai (Shona IPA: (the s and the v are coärticulated), English ?) born March 10, 1952) is a trade unionist, human rights activist, Democrat and President of the mainstream [1] Movement for Democratic Change, the main opposition party in Zimbabwe. ... Professor Arthur Guseni Oliver Mutambara (born October 25, 1966) is a Zimbabwean politician who was elected President of the Movement for Democratic Change in February 2006 by a a small break away faction of the party dominated by Gibson Sibanda and Welshman Ncube. ... Parliamentary elections will be held in Zimbabwe in 2008, instead of 2010 as scheduled,[1] to hold them at the same time as the presidential elections. ...

History

In February 2000, ZANU-PF organized a constitutional referendum. The proposed change would have limited future presidents to two terms, but as it was not retroactive, Mugabe could have stood for another two terms. It would also have made his government and military officials immune from prosecution for any illegal acts committed while in office. Additionally, it legalized the confiscation of white-owned land for redistribution to black farmers without compensation. It was defeated, after a low 20% turnout, by a strong urban vote fueled by an effective SMS campaign. Mugabe declared that he would "abide by the will of the people". The vote was a surprise to ZANU-PF, and an embarrassment before parliamentary elections due in mid-April. This success fueled a meteoric rise in visibility to the very recently formed MDC. For other uses, see SMS (disambiguation). ...

In the 2000 parliamentary elections, the MDC won 57 of the 120 seats up for election. This marked the first time that an opposition party had achieved more than a handful of seats since the merger of ZANU and ZAPU in 1988. The MDC dominated in most urban centres and Matabeleland. MDC won all seats in the two biggest cities, Harare and Bulawayo and lost only two in Matabeleland. Map of Zimbabwe showing Matabeleland Map of Zimbabwe: Matabeleland is on the west Modern day Matabeleland is currently divided into two provinces: Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South. ... Motto: Pamberi Nekushandria Vanhu (Forward with Service to the People) Map of Zimbabwe showing the location of Harare. ... The City of Bulawayo is highlighted in this map of Zimbabwe. ...

This election was viewed by international observers from the Commonwealth of Nations and Norwegian and South African parliamentary delegations declared the election not being free and fair. The MDC claimed the elections were rigged, citing state-sponsored violence and some voter results figures that were unaccounted for. They took the matter to court. Some missions from Mugabe's allies such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) observers and the South African Ministerial Observer team held that the election was substantially free and fair. The election is currently being challenged in the Zimbabwean Supreme Court.^{[citation needed]} The Commonwealth of Nations as of 2008. ... SADC-only (yellow) and SADC+SACU members Headquarters Gaborone, Botswana Working languages Membership 15 African states Leaders  -  Secretary General Establishment  -  as the SADCC April 1, 1980   -  as the SADC August 17, 1992  Website http://www. ...

Split

The MDC announced during mid-2004 that it would not participate in any further elections in Zimbabwe, including the 2005 Zimbabwe parliamentary elections until it believed a free and fair vote could take place. However on February 3, 2005, then spokesperson Paul Themba Nyathi told a news conference, "It is with a heavy heart that the MDC has decided to participate in the elections ... This is a decision based primarily on the demands of our people".^[1] A meeting of the party's decision making national council was called in October 2005 to decide on whether the party should participate in senatorial elections which were imminent. The national council resolved by a vote of 33 to 31 that the party should participate. Morgan Tsvangirai overruled the vote, arguing that it was no use contesting an election where the electoral field "breeds illegitimate outcomes and provides for predetermined results."^[2] He argued that the Senate of Zimbabwe was part of the 17th amendment, which the MDC had opposed in Parliament. Tsvangirai stated then that the council was split 50/50 including the proxies sent by members of the National Executive Sekai Holland and Grace Kwinjeh.^[3] Those who favored participation went on to contest the elections, but lost heavily securing only 5 out of the 60 contested seats. It was reported that some of these candidates were brought into the city by the Central Intelligence Organization and driven to the nomination courts. The National Constitutional Assembly - a coalition of pro-democracy civil society groups, also supported a boycott of the Senate elections, believing it was conceived only as the result of an undemocratic constitutional change.^[4] Poster of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change accusing the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front of election fraud Parliamentary elections were held in Zimbabwe on March 31, 2005. ... is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Senate of Zimbabwe is the upper chamber of the countrys bicameral Parliament. ... This article needs to be wikified. ...

After the Senate elections, the MDC split into two groups: one led by Morgan Tsvangirai, and another by his deputy Gibson Sibanda with the support of Welshman Ncube, Gift Chimanikire and spokesperson Paul Themba Nyathi. The pro-Senate group had one more member in the House of Assembly at the time of the split, however senior members of the pro-Senate faction subsequently defected to the faction of the MDC led by Tsvangirai including its Chairman Gift Chimanikire,^[5] Blessing Chebundo, the Member of Parliament for Kwekwe, the Environmental Secretary and Binga Member of Parliament Joel Gabuza, and Senate Candidate for Tsholotsho Sam Sipepa Nkomo.^[6][7] Morgan Tsvangirai (Shona IPA: (the s and the v are coärticulated), English ?) born March 10, 1952) is a trade unionist, human rights activist, Democrat and President of the mainstream [1] Movement for Democratic Change, the main opposition party in Zimbabwe. ... Gibson Jama Sibanda (born 1944) is a Zimbabwean politician. ... Professor Welshman Ncube (born July 7, 1961) is a Zimbabwean politician and a leading member of the smaller faction of the Movement for Democratic Change. ... Kwekwe or Kwe Kwe is a city in Zimbabwe. ... Binga is a town in Matabeleland North in Zimbabwe, lying on the south eastern shore of Lake Kariba. ...

A by-election for Budiriro constituency was held and was won by Emmanuel Chisvuure of the faction led by Tsvangirai he polled 7949 votes, and Gabriel Chaibva of the Mutambara faction polled 504 votes ^[8] the combined votes was less than half of what they had got in previous elections.^[9] Although the pro-senate faction had the bulk of its support in Matabeleland, it felt that it needed a Shona leader to reflect Zimbabwe demographics and chose the anti-senate academic Arthur Mutambara as leader.

CIO (CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION.

The CIO succeeded for a while in dividing the party by using a white officer from the old Rodesian Army, Col Lionel Dyck, to make different and secret proposals to Mr.Tsvangirai and Prof. Welshman Ncube. Dyck, a close business associate of Mnangagwa, had formed a company called Mine-Tech which gained lucrative mine-clearing contracts from the Zimbabwe government via Mnanagagwa. Mine Tech has now relocated to Wiltshire in England and has linked up with the British company Exploration Logistics which is headed by Alastair Morrison OBE,MC. Morrison who was a former 2 i/c of 22 SAS has very close links with British Intelligence. It would appear that Mnangagwa, who worked for the American NSA (Mr. Phillip) while on the DARE, has now transferred his allegiance. Mnangagwa has been No.1 sell-out for many years.

It is widely believed that the split was a reflection of problems that had been in the party for a while.^[10] In July 2006, after attending a political meeting in the Harare suburb of Mabvuku, Stevenson was attacked 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. But, while recovering in hospital, the Stevenson positively identified her assailants as members of a rival faction of the MDC..^[11] . The Central Intelligence Organization took advantage of the divisions between the factions to attack member of the other faction. One of the CIO/Mnangagwe moves was the use by Mnangagwa of Col.Lionel Dyck, his close business associate, who approached Tsvangirai and Prof.Welshman Ncube with different proposals on behalf of Mnangagwa. This had the intention of dividing the party. Dyck is also the link between Mnangagwa through their secret joint venture Mine Tech to important business links in the British establishment. Mine Tech is now owned by the British Exploration Logistics whose Chairman is Alastair Morrison OBE.MC. moves^[10] Cracks had also emerged along ethnic lines and between trade unionists and academics.^[12]

Notable party members

Morgan Tsvangirai faction

• Tendai Biti, Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Harare North-East
• Thokozani Khuphe, Vice President and Member of Parliament for Makokoba
• Lovemore Moyo, National Chairman and Member of Parliament for Matobo South
• Nelson Chamisa, MDC spokesman ; Member of Parliament for Kuwadzana Central
• Elias Mudzuri, Organising secretary; Member of Parliament for Warren Park and former Executive Mayor of Harare
• Isaac Matongo, National Chairman (until death in May 2007)
• Gift Tandare, MDC member (shot dead by police in a March 2007 protest)
• Eddie Cross, MDC Policy Coordinator General and Member of Parliament for Bulawayo South
• Roy Bennett, MDC Treasurer-General and former Member of Parliament for Chimanimani
• Thamsanqa Mahlangu, MDC National Youth Chairman and Member of Parliament for Nkulumane

Tendai Biti (born 6 August 1966) is a Zimbabwean politician and lawyer. ... Thokozani Khuphe (born in 1963) is the Vice President of the Movement for Democratic Change and Member of Parliament for Makokoba, Zimbabwe. ... Lovemore Moyo is the National Chairman of the Movement for Democratic Change political party in Zimbabwe. ... Nelson Chamisa (born February 28, 1978)[1] is a Zimbabwean politician, member of the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe for Kuwadzana, Harare, spokesperson for the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC),[2] and national youth chairperson for that party. ... Elias Mudzuri is the Mayor of Harare the Capital city of Zimbabwe. ... Warren Park is a town located in Marion County, Indiana. ... Motto: Pamberi Nekushandria Vanhu (Forward with Service to the People) Map of Zimbabwe showing the location of Harare. ... Isaac Matongo (born 12 March 1947 in Masvingo - died 2 May 2007) was a Zimbabwean politician, and labor activist. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Eddie Cross is a renowned Zimbabwean economist and founder member of the mainstream Movement for Democratic Change party led by Morgan Tsvangirai and is currently the Policy Coordinator General. ... Bulawayo South is a parliamentary constituency of the Zimbabwean House of Assembly located in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. ... Roy Bennett, Zimbabwean farmer and politician Roy Leslie Bennett (born February 16, 1957) is a Zimbabwean politician who is a former member of the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe for the seat of Chimanimani. ... Chimanimani is a mountainous area in the east of Zimbabwe. ...

Arthur Mutambara faction

• Welshman Ncube, Secretary-General and former Member of Parliament for Makokoba
• Gibson Sibanda, Vice President and former Member of Parliament for Nkulumane
• Gabriel Chaibva, Spokesperson and former Member of Parliament for Harare South
• David Coltart, Senator for Bulawayo South

Professor Welshman Ncube (born July 7, 1961) is a Zimbabwean politician and a leading member of the smaller faction of the Movement for Democratic Change. ... Gibson Jama Sibanda (born 1944) is a Zimbabwean politician. ... Bulawayo South is a parliamentary constituency of the Zimbabwean House of Assembly located in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. ...

Developments in 2007

On 3 August 2007 it was widely reported that two officials of the Arthur Mutambara faction had defected to the Tsvangirai faction, a week after talks to reunite the two parties had broken down. is the 215th day of the year (216th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

At a media briefing, former Member of Parliament Silas Mangono and Masvingo Province Chairman Shaky Matake said they had defected from the Mutambara faction. ^[13][14][15] Masvingo is the capital of the Masvingo Province of Zimbabwe. ...

An opinion poll in 27 September 2007 by the Mass Public Opinion Institute of Zimbabwe found that of the 22% of poll respondents who are supporters of the MDC, 21% backed the MDC faction led Tsvangirai and 1% expressed support for Mutambara's faction. is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

The poll takers acknowledged the survey was conducted mainly in the rural areas, traditionally a ZANU-PF stronghold, because the majority of the population lives there and the survey wanted to be representative of the Zimbabweans populations. It polled 1,202 of eligible voters.^[16]

South Africa's mediation between the MDC and ZANU-PF

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) mandated South African President Thabo Mbeki to mediate between ZANU-PF and the MDC in April 2007 to create conditions for free and fair elections for the 2008 polls. Mbeki appointed Sydney Mufamadi, South Africa's Minister of Provincial and Local Government, and director-general in the presidency, Frank Chikane, as the main mediators in the talks. All parties agreed to refrain from commenting on the progress of the talks in the media. Due to the media silence, it is relatively difficult to judge the progress of these talks, but both parties have agreed to constitutional amendments and the revision of certain key media and security laws. Critics say that these changes are superficial and the mediation seems to have had little impact on a practical level. The MDC faction led by Morgan Tsvangirai threatened to pull out of the talks if the conditions were not created in which free and fair elections can take place. SADC-only (yellow) and SADC+SACU members Headquarters Gaborone, Botswana Working languages Membership 15 African states Leaders  -  Secretary General Establishment  -  as the SADCC April 1, 1980   -  as the SADC August 17, 1992  Website http://www. ... Look up South Africa on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Government South Africa Government Online official government site Parliament of South Africa official site Statistics South Africa official government site News AllAfrica. ... Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki ,KStJ [2][3] (born June 18, 1942)[2] is the current President of the Republic of South Africa. ... Fholisani Sydney Mufamadi is the former Minister of Safety & Security and present Minister of Provincial and Local Government of South Africa. ... Frank Chikane (born 1951) is a South African civil servant, writer and cleric. ...

2008 election

Tsvangirai and Mutambara failed to unite on a single MDC candidate for the March 2008 presidential election. Tsvangirai ran for President while Mutambara backed the independent candidacy of Simba Makoni.^[17] In the election, Tsvangirai won 47.9% of the vote according to Zimbabwe Electoral Commission results, ahead of Mugabe's 43.2%, necessitating a run-off because neither candidate won a majority; however, Tsvangirai claimed to have won a narrow first-round majority on 50.3% based on the mandatory posting of votes counted at polling booths. Presidential elections will be held in Zimbabwe in March 2008. ...

In the simultaneous parliamentary election, both factions contested most seats, with the Tsvangirai faction winning 99 and the Mutambara faction 10, compared with 97 for Zanu PF, 1 independent, leaving 3 vacancies caused by deaths of candidates.^{[18] [19]} Parliamentary elections will be held in Zimbabwe in 2008, instead of 2010 as scheduled,[1] to hold them at the same time as the presidential elections. ...

On 28 April 2008, the two factions of the MDC announced that they were reuniting, thus enabling them to have a clear parliamentary majority.^[20][21][22] As of June 2008, the factions have not formally merged.^[23] is the 118th day of the year (119th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ...

International media reported that MDC members and supporters, including prominent activist Tonderai Ndira who was murdered in May, were subjected to arrests, beatings and killings during the campaign period for the second round of the election.^[24][25]

On June 22, 2008, Tzvangirai announced at a press conference that he was withdrawing from the run-off against Mugabe, due to be held on June 27, describing it as a "violent sham" and saying that his supporters risked being killed if they voted for him. He vowed that the MDC would ultimately prevail and that its victory could "only be delayed".^[26] is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• 44 Harvest House
• History of Zimbabwe
• MDC Congress 2005
• Politics of Zimbabwe

44 Harvest House also known simply as Harvest House is a six story building in Harare located at corner Nelson Mandela Avenue and Angwa Street it serves as the National Headquarters of the Movement for Democratic Change party in Zimbabwe. ... The history of Zimbabwe began with the end of the Bush War and the transition to majority rule in 1980. ... MDC, symbol an open palm with its boarders in black on a white background encircled by the party’s slogan “Chinja maitiro” “Guqula izenzo” written in black. ... Politics of Zimbabwe takes place in a framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Zimbabwe is both head of state and head of government. ...

References

Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Movement for Democratic Change official site - cave: may contain trojans

v • d • e Political parties in Zimbabwe Ruling party Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)- Zimbabwe African National Union - Ndonga (ZANU-Ndonga) - National Alliance for Good Governance (NAGG)- Zimbabwe People's Democratic Party - Zimbabwe Youth in Alliance (ZYA)- International Socialist Organisation (ISO) - United People's Party (UPP) Defunct Parties Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) - Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) - Rhodesian Front (RF) Key People Robert Mugabe (ZANU-PF) - Ndabaningi Sithole (ZANU, ZANU - Ndonga) - Joshua Nkomo (ZAPU) - Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC) - Ian Smith (RF) Armed Factions ZANLA (ZANU, ZANU-PF) - ZIPRA (ZAPU) Portal:Politics - List of political parties - Politics of Zimbabwe