Movement for Democratic Change – Ncube


The Movement for Democratic Change - Ncube 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 in contrast to the larger Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai. 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.

Foundation

The Movement for Democratic Change was founded in 1999 as an opposition party to the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front 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 Morgan Tsvangirai walking against the popular decision of the National Council.

Inter-formation violence

In July 2006, after attending a political meeting in the Harare suburb of Mabvuku, MP Trudy 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. However, while recovering in hospital, Stevenson identified her assailants as members of a rival faction of the MDC.

2008 presidential election

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

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 and other political parties which was called the MDC Alliance. After that election, the MDC-N, the PDP and the MDC-T re-united under the original party name, the MDC.

Notable party members