/ 13 September 1999

NEW POLITICAL PARTY FOR ZIM

THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and civic groups on Saturday launched the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) as a political party which aims to challenge the ruling ZANU-PF of Robert Mugabe in next year’s parliamentary elections. The ‘Zimbabwe Independent’ said the ZCTU’s general secretary Morgan Tsvangirai, its president Gibson Sibanda, and deputy president Nicholas Mudzengerere are tipped to form the nucleus of the new party’s interim executive. Other members expected to lead the new party are said to be constitutional lawyer Welshman Ncube, law lecturer Lovemore Madhuku, human rights lawyer David Coltart, Catholic church worker Mike Auret, college lecturer Fidelis Mhashu and two unnamed former students of University of Zimbabwe.