THE Welshman Ncube-led MDC opposition party is planning to change its name as part of a rebranding exercise following a spate of resignations within its top leadership.
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
Party spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi confirmed the development yesterday, but said discussions on the matter were still informal.
“No formal engagements have taken place regarding the change of the party name, but party members have been informally engaging each other for some time,” he said.
“The issue has not been discussed by any of the party organs, but if the echoes reaching our ears prove to be voices of our members, the party will take those suggestions to the next level.
“Such a decision can only be made by the national council and, thereafter, congress. We stand guided by the members of the party and no one will ignore the voices of the party owners . . . the party owners are the members.”
The MDC has been toying around with the idea of changing its name for a while now, although the party’s last congress in 2011 shot down the idea.
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Had talks between the MDC and then MDC Renewal Team succeeded, the merged party would have been known as the United Movement for Democratic Change (UMDC).
Chihwayi replaced Joshua Mhambi as party spokesperson after the latter quit the MDC over internal fights.
Mhambi had held fort since March after the resignation of spokesperson Nhlanhla Dube.
In June, the party’s treasurer-general Paul Themba Nyathi also quit over the same reasons. Other top officials that have resigned include ex-secretary-general Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, chairman Goodrich Chimbaira and his deputy Frank Chamunorwa.
All has not been well in the party following its poor showing in the 2013 general elections, where it failed to garner a single contested parliamentary seat.
Attempts to breathe life into the MDC through a unity agreement with the Tendai Biti-led People’s Democratic Party failed to materialise.
