Movement for Democratic Change – Ncube
Zimbabwean political party
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.
Foundation
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.
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.
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