*Exonerating Mwonzora: The Guardians of MDC's Democratic Soul* The legacy of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), once Zimbabwe’s most formidable opposition movement, is today entangled in a web of betrayal, constitutional violations, and personal ambition. But as the smoke clears, one truth is becoming undeniable: those who stayed with the original MDC — leaders like Douglas Mwonzora — were not traitors. They were defenders of principle, foresight, and constitutional order. Much of the MDC's decline stems from the actions taken in the emotional aftermath of Morgan Tsvangirai’s death. In a move that defied the party’s constitution, Nelson Chamisa seized power without going through the required extraordinary congress. This began a trend of disregarding foundational processes and replacing collective leadership with personality-driven populism. At the 2019 Gweru Congress, Chamisa declared the formation of what he called the “MDC Alliance party.” This was a major deviation from the original MDC Alliance electoral pact, which was never meant to be a single political party. It was a strategic coalition of independent opposition parties working together for the 2018 elections. The alliance was not intended to dissolve those parties’ individual identities — a fact Chamisa chose to ignore. Numerous voices warned Chamisa against this unilateral move. It was clear to many seasoned MDC members — including Mwonzora — that figures from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and MDC Green (led by Welshman Ncube) had not simply joined to support him. They had their own political ambitions. But rather than listen, Chamisa labelled those who cautioned him as sellouts and enemies of progress. In truth, their warnings were prophetic. The MDC Alliance, hastily turned into a personal political platform, soon morphed into the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). Yet this new formation lacked structure, a constitution, or formal congress. It was a fluid project, built more on charisma than on institutional foundations. Predictably, internal instability followed. In the end, the CCC — and everything Chamisa had attempted to build — was taken over by the very people he was warned about. Welshman Ncube, and others from PDP and MDC Green ultimately laid claim to the brand, even using Chamisa’s face on the logo while pushing him out. The tragedy, however, is that Chamisa had a golden opportunity to be the undisputed heir of Morgan Tsvangirai’s legacy — a chance to lead the MDC with legitimacy and honor. Even after the Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that his ascendancy was unconstitutional and that the party should return to its 2014 structures and hold an extraordinary congress, Chamisa defied the judgment. Rather than embracing a chance to unify the party through due process, he chose to abandon the MDC and further divide the opposition by forming a new entity. This defiance cost him the moral and institutional authority that could have sealed his place in history as Tsvangirai’s rightful successor. Now, Chamisa stands politically homeless — a “ *former president* ,” once celebrated, now isolated. Had he listened to the concerns raised early on by MDC veterans like Mwonzora, this outcome might have been avoided. The extraordinary congress could have resolved leadership questions in a democratic and legitimate way, giving the party unity and direction. Instead, by ignoring institutional processes and marginalizing dissenting voices, Chamisa created fertile ground for the eventual betrayal he suffered. Douglas Mwonzora, who insisted on upholding the MDC constitution, has been unfairly vilified for too long. He and others like him who remained within the original MDC were not enemies of progress — they were its stewards. They warned of the dangers ahead, they resisted unconstitutional shortcuts, and they paid the political price for being principled. Now, with the benefit of hindsight, it is time to rewrite the narrative. Chamisa’s fall was not a matter of sabotage, but the consequence of ignoring those who genuinely cared for the party's long-term health. The MDC was never meant to be a one-man show. It was a movement born out of the people’s desire for democratic governance — a vision that leaders like Mwonzora have worked tirelessly to preserve. If we are to honour Morgan Tsvangirai’s legacy truthfully, we must also honour those who stood by his values. It is time to exonerate Mwonzora and the MDC loyalists. They were not traitors — they were the real heirs of the democratic ideals upon which the party was founded. Terancy Mambende MDC Midlands North Sec for Information and Publicity