“All MDC Leaders Failed”: Hwende Calls For Fresh Opposition Movement

Kuwadzana East MP Chalton Hwende (CCC) has said that all former MDC leaders share responsibility for the collapse of the party.

Hwende’s comments come as disputed MDC leader Douglas Mwonzora calls for former party leaders, including Nelson Chamisa, Tendai Biti, and Job Sikhala, to unite ahead of the 2028 general elections.

Since its formation in 1999, the MDC has split several times, giving rise to multiple breakaway parties, including MDC-T, MDC Alliance, MDC-N, MDC 1999, CCC, and PDP.

Hwende said Zimbabwe needs a new, broad-based opposition movement and that former leaders should accept being led if the country is to achieve meaningful change. He said:

“We must accept that we have all contributed to the demise of a genuine and authentic opposition movement, and for the country to move forward, we need a new broad-based opposition movement led by new leaders, and we must accept to be led.”

Hwende was once a close ally of Chamisa, serving as secretary-general of the MDC Alliance before taking a similar senior role in the CCC.

However, after the 2023 general elections, Hwende aligned himself with self-styled CCC secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu.

Tshabangu’s recalls of MPs effectively handed ZANU-PF a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, which the party plans to use to amend the constitution.

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“Chopper was correct, State House is far” — Chamisa reflects on MDC’s 27-year journey Chamisa Warns Chin’ono: “I Have Tolerated Your Tomfoolery For Far Too Long”