Zimbabwe’s largest opposition party The Movement For Democratic Change (MDC) have been hit with a blow that is likely to shake its base and confuse its supporters. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has just registered a new political party in the name of MDC Original.
ZEC chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana, wrote a letter confirming the registration. “The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission acknowledges receipt of your party profile documents, the contents of which have been noted,” read part of the letter.
Ironically, Last year ZEC refused to register a party called ZANU PF original but have accepted MDC Original’s application to register. The move is likely to cause doubts about whether ZEC can be trusted by the electorate given its double standards. ZEC has always been viewed to support the interests of the ruling party Zanu PF. In March 2008 ZEC took over a month to release the results of the Presidential elections which the late Morgan Tsvangirai of MDC-T had won by 48%. Tsvangirai however denied the results arguing that he won by 63% of the total vote cast. ZEC also came under scrutiny in 2018 Elections when they registered more that one MDC-Alliance candidates for a constituency.
How many MDCs are out there?
There are other parties with the name MDC in Zimbabwe. There is MDC-T headed by Thokozani Khupe. Another outfit, MDC Zimbabwe, that is purportedly based in Gweru, was registered last year. MDC Alliance Vice President Welshman Ncube used to have his own party MDC that split from Tsvangirai in 2005. Another MDC that ceased to exist is MDC 1999 that was founded by Job Sikhala after he was frustrated by life in the main MDC-T.
Who is the President of MDC Original
The President of the new party is not known at this moment. Analysts who spoke to Savanna News suggest Douglas Mwonzora might be linked to the party. The former MDC-T Secretary General is being haunted out of the new outfit MDC Alliance by Chamisa loyalists.