'Chamisa talk, I act,' says Mwonzora

Summary of the political history of Douglas Mwonzora

1988
- Led University of Zimbabwe student demonstrations against state corruption and plans by Mugabe to establish a One Party state in Zimbabwe.
- Arrested and detained by state agents during these demonstrations.
1989
- Led the October 4 Revolution 1989 at the University of Zimbabwe demanding the release of detained student leaders. This led to the closure of the University of Zimbabwe.
1990
- Joined the Zimbabwe Unity Movement to fight against the one party state Project
- Elected Secretary for Legal Affairs for Harare Province ZUM
- Latter elected spokesman of ZUM
- Arrested and detained at Whawha Prison for nearly 10 days for writing the Constitution of ZUM
1992
- Joined the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions as a legal adviser in the secretariat led by President Tsvangirai
- Was tasked to train senior Trade Unionists in the basics of law
1994
- Together with the late Justice Sansole and the late Kempton Makamure drafted the proposed New Constitution of Zimbabwe. This document was rejected by Mugabe and the government
1997
- Challenged the government in the Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the Political Parties Finances Act.
- Won the Political Parties funding case on 30 September 1997
- Ever since that case all political parties with MPs receive state funding.
- Since the election of 2000 the MDC has been getting state funding as a result of this case
- This year the MDC is set to receive $4 Million from the government as a result of the case I won in 1997.
1998
- Together with President Tsvangirai formed the National Constitutional Assembly
- Served as a Committee Member in the NCA National Task Force Chaired by President Tsvangirai

2000
- Led the No Vote campaign in Manicaland and the province recorded the one of the highest No Votes in the country
- Represented some MDC candidates in election petitions in the High Court
- Was part of the Legal Team representing arrested MDC activists in the courts in Masvingo, Manicaland, Midlands and Matabeleland.
2001
- Together with Professor Madhuku drafted the NCA Draft Constitution of Zimbabwe
- This draft was rejected by Mugabe and Zanu PF
2001-2005
- Represented arrested MDC activists in Masvingo, Midlands, and Manicaland provinces
- Represented most University and college students expelled for political activism and for being MDC
- Was a lecturer in Law at the University of Zimbabwe and the Great Zimbabwe University
2003
- Suspended as a lecturer from the Great Zimbabwe University for insulting Mugabe
2005
- Contested Parliamentary elections in Nyanga
- Represented MDC activists in Mabvuku including Tonderai Ndira arrested by government
- Won all the cases in which I represented the MDC activists in the courts
2008
- Elected MP for Nyanga North Constituency
- Led the defence of 33 MDC MPs whose election was challenged in court by Zanu PF
- Won all the 33 cases
- Represented 8 Masvingo MDC MPs harassed by the state
- Won all the 8 cases
2009
- Appointed by President Tsvangirai to lead the COPAC to draft the Constitution of Zimbabwe
- While at COPAC led all the Constitutional negotiations at the Select Committee
- Won all the constitutional negotiations
- During the outreach programme I employed over 300 MDC activists and youths in the COPAC program
2011
- Elected spokesperson of the MDC
- Arrested for insulting Mugabe
2012
- Singularly completed the negotiation of the New Constitution of Zimbabwe when the Management Committee led by Biti and Chinamasa had failed
2013
- Completed the New Constitution of Zimbabwe with a Referendum in which the Constitution was endorsed by over 3 million Zimbabweans
2014
- After Mandel Rebellion I organised a press conference and rally outside Harvest House to confirm support for President Tsvangirai
- Represented 9 of our youths wrongly accused of assaulting Mangoma
- Won the case for all 9 activists and they were acquitted in court
- Represented President Tsvangirai in the High Court when the Renewals wanted to try him
- Beat the Renewal Team in Court to ensure that they did not try President Tsvangirai
- Represented the Party when the Renewal Team wanted to take our property including all the cars
- Represented the President when the Renewal Team wanted embarrass our President by taking his property.

THEY TALK. I ACT.