Movement for Democratic Change – Ncube

Movement for Democratic Change
LeaderWelshman Ncube
FoundedOctober 2005 (October 2005)
Dissolved2018
Split fromMovement for Democratic Change
Merged intoMovement for Democratic Change – Alliance[1]
Youth wingMDC National Youth Assembly
Women's wingMDC National Women Assembly
IdeologyDemocratic socialism
Social democracy
Pan-Africanism
Political positionCentre-left
ColoursGreen
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

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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

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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.[3]

Inter-formation violence

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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][3]

2008 presidential election

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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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ "MDC Alliance a party: Court". 28 May 2020.
  2. ^ Lex Vambe (11 September 2018). "Chamisa names Ncube, Komichi as deputies, MDC re-unites". PaZimbabwe. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Coltart, David (2016). The struggle continues: 50 years of tyranny in Zimbabwe. Auckland Park, South Africa: Jacana. ISBN 978-1-4314-2318-7.
  4. ^ Tsvangirai, Morgan; Bango, Tagwirei William (2011). Morgan Tsvangirai: at the deep end. Johannesburg: Penguin Books (South Africa). ISBN 978-0-14-302682-2. OCLC 764547445.
  5. ^ Violet Gonda, Tererai Karimakwenda. "MP Trudy Stevenson and three colleagues severely assaulted". Association of Zimbabwe Journalists. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  6. ^ Trudy Stevenson (24 May 2008). "My head was bleeding profusely, I knew my arm was broken, it was just hanging". NewZimbabwe.com. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  7. ^ "MDC 'victory' in Budiriro is disastrous". NewZimbabwe.com. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  8. ^ "Mutambara withdraws from race, backs Makoni". Newzimbabwe.com. Archived from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  9. ^ "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 Desk. "People must benefit from local resources: Dube – Zimbabwe Online News". Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  12. ^ Jongwe, Anthony (3 June 2011). "Zimbabwe: Youth Bemoan Exclusion (Page 1 of 2)". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  13. ^ Muzulu, Paidamoyo (13 January 2011). "Zimbabwe: Ncube Proves His Political Acumen (Page 1 of 2)". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  14. ^ "The inevitable demise of opposition politics in Zim". The Chronicle. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
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