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High Court vindicates MDC's position on dissolution of Women's Assembly executive
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
October 26, 2007

On 28 July 2007, the National Council of the MDC resolved to conduct a Commission of Inquiry into the difficulties and the disharmony in our Women's Assembly.

That Commission of Inquiry was answerable to the national chairman of the MDC, Hon Lovemore Moyo, who was then to report to the Standing Committee, which was empowered to act in any manner whatsoever to remedy the situation.

On 2nd of October 2007, the National Chairman presented a report of the Commission of Inquiry which had been prepared and chaired by Samuel Sipepa Nkomo. The other members of the Commission were Hon Blessing Chebundo and Gweru executive mayor Sessel Zvidzai. After deliberations, the Standing Committee, on the basis of the powers delegated to it, dissolved the executive of the Women's Assembly.

The decision was motivated primarily by the fact that the overwhelming sentiment of the women who had given evidence before the Commission was that there were structural problems in the Women' Assembly and that dissolution was the only way forward.

Contrary to the opinions of others, the decision was not based on patriarchy, chauvinism or contempt of the feminist movement. On the contrary, the Standing Committee merely endorsed the feelings of the women themselves and made a decision it deemed to be in the best interest of the party. More importantly, it was a decision based on the due process and in strict compliance with the provisions of the MDC Constitution.

Today, the 26th October 2007, the High Court of Zimbabwe, in a two-hour hearing, considered the legality of the decision to dissolve the Women's Assembly and the legality of the decision to call for an extra-ordinary Congress to be held on 28 October 2007.

The MDC is pleased to advise that the correctness of its decision has been vindicated and therefore the Congress of 28 October 2007 will proceed.

We want to thank many organizations representing women in Zimbabwe, in particular, the Zimbabwe Women's Resource Centre and Network, the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association and Women In Politics Support Unit, who had raised concern over this issue.

It is important that the MDC remains accountable to civic society and to its members. We are sure our friends will appreciate the fact that at times difficult and conflictual decisions have to be made.

We therefore take this opportunity to wish all the delegates and candidates a successful Congress.

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