News / Local
MDC-United plans Bulawayo launch
18 Dec 2014 at 06:40hrs | Views
THE two MDC formations led by Welshman Ncube and Tendai Biti, now operating under the banner United Movement for Democratic Change (UMDC), plan to hold a second launch of the party in Bulawayo early next year with officials saying it is a step towards congress.
The two parties merged recently after signing an agreement in Harare to form a new party.
The UMDC, in the interim, is led by Ncube and Sekai Holland until its inaugural elective congress tentatively slated for August next year.
Spokesperson of the party, Jacob Mafume told Southern Eye yesterday that the second launch would be held early February next year.
"Bulawayo has always been a key political space in the country and after the Harare launch, Bulawayo is next on our programme," he said.
"That could be in early February as we move ahead towards the congress.
"Bulawayo has been renewed from President Robert Mugabe and renewed from (MDC-T leader) Morgan Tsvangirai and ready for the reunification team to address the economic decay."
Mafume said both formations would restructure in order to merge structures. According to the reunification roadmap, the two formations shall submit lists of their respective structures to the national standing committee by February 28 2015.
"All the implementing committees shall do desktop work and submit work plans for 2015 by December 31 2014," reads part of the agreement.
"The verification of the party shall be done between March 1 2015 and April 30 2015.
"The integration and harmonisation of the party structures shall take place between May 1 and June 30 2015."
A policy conference is earmarked for April, for an elective congress, which shall receive and adopt the re-unification progress report and adopt the draft constitution.
During the signing ceremony of the reunification in Harare, Biti in his speech apologised to Ncube and members of his party for the personal abuse he heaped on them following the 2005 split the former labour movement.
The two parties merged recently after signing an agreement in Harare to form a new party.
The UMDC, in the interim, is led by Ncube and Sekai Holland until its inaugural elective congress tentatively slated for August next year.
Spokesperson of the party, Jacob Mafume told Southern Eye yesterday that the second launch would be held early February next year.
"Bulawayo has always been a key political space in the country and after the Harare launch, Bulawayo is next on our programme," he said.
"That could be in early February as we move ahead towards the congress.
Mafume said both formations would restructure in order to merge structures. According to the reunification roadmap, the two formations shall submit lists of their respective structures to the national standing committee by February 28 2015.
"All the implementing committees shall do desktop work and submit work plans for 2015 by December 31 2014," reads part of the agreement.
"The verification of the party shall be done between March 1 2015 and April 30 2015.
"The integration and harmonisation of the party structures shall take place between May 1 and June 30 2015."
A policy conference is earmarked for April, for an elective congress, which shall receive and adopt the re-unification progress report and adopt the draft constitution.
During the signing ceremony of the reunification in Harare, Biti in his speech apologised to Ncube and members of his party for the personal abuse he heaped on them following the 2005 split the former labour movement.
Source - Southern Eye
