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Opening remarks by the MDC National Chairman Hon. L.N.M.Moyo at the 3rd National Congress of the Movement for Democratic Change
Lovemore Moyo, MDC
May 04, 2011

The Hon. President of the MDC, Rt. Hon. M.R. Tsvangirai

Hon Vice-President of the MDC, Hon. T. Khupe

National Executive Members here present,

Honourable Members of Parliament,

Invited Guests and

Congress Delegates:

It is my pleasant duty to welcome you to our 3rd National Congress, taking place in Bulawayo the City of Kings running under the theme 'United, Winning, A people's Covenant to real change'.. The Congress theme is a clear reaffirmation by the party of its commitment to fulfill the objectives we set for ourselves in 1999.

Hon. President, distinguished guests, and delegates:

This congress offers us an opportunity to look back on the path we have travelled thus far, as well as reflect on what we have achieved thus far. We also need to focus on what we should achieve in the near future. It is therefore critical, that we stand here today to salute our compatriots in the struggle who walked with us diligently and some who are now departed.

The list might be too long, but I wish to note that since the last Congress we have lost our founding Vice-President Ubaba uGibson Jama Sibanda as well as our founding National Chairman Ubaba uIsaac Matongo. Their valuable contribution to the democratic struggle will always be remembered and treasured. We also lost many of our foot soldiers through Zanu PF thugs and state-sponsored violence. May their souls rest in eternal peace!

Maywe take this opportunity to all stand up and observe a minute of silence in memory of our fallen heroes.

Delegates;

Our Congress comes at a time when our party is growing from from strength to strength as reflected by the structures represented here from all corners of our country. We want to continue as a party to build on a solid foundation that we have built for the past eleven years in order strengthen our structures at all levels. There is also need to focus on transforming our movement into a vibrant political party supported by strong cadreship development programmes in order to prepare ourselves to govern.

Delegates;

I am happy to note that in the past 11 years, we have remained loyal, true and steadfast to our founding values and principles. As a movement we have remained resilient and non-violent in the face of harassment and state sponsored violence .During these trying times, we have managed to show love and compassion towards each other as party cadres. However, there is need for us to continue to remind ourselves of the importance of respecting these values at all times as they define who we are and what we want to become in the future.

Delegates;

I would want to see this spirit continuing during our ongoing 3rd National Congress. As daughters and sons of this movement, we are duty bound to feel for and support each other. We should never allow the state machinery to divide us as doing so will be tantamount to betraying the sacrifices of millions of Zimbabweans who have stood by us in the past decade. For we are the hope and the only future they have in realizing their dreams and aspirations for a better Zimbabwe for everyone.

Mr President;

As we gather here to hold this elective and policy Congress, let us be alive to the real challenges that lie beyond being elected to office. These include building and strengthening our Movement, as well as, winning power through democratic means. This Congress not only offers us an opportunity to come up with resolutions which will drive the party agenda for the next five years but, it is also an opportunity to engage in leadership renewal while at the same time making an honest assessment of the performance of our party in the last five years, based on the 2006 Congress resolutions which the President will be honoured to articulate later in the programme.

Delegates;

I therefore encourage all of us to accept the outcome of the Congress. We should never take our losses too personally, but rather we should be able embrace the victors and continue to work for the party in other capacities. It is only in this way that we will be able to build this movement into a viable and vibrant alternative government. We should do away with the culture of failing to accept the outcome of the results.

Delegates,

If our Party is to lay serious claims to becoming a ruling party we have to first put our house in order. This begins with disciplined cadreship, embracing non-violent principles and a single minded commitment to working for the collective good of the party's founding values and orientation towards people centered programmes as opposed to pursuing narrow self-serving agendas.

In this light, working as a team, the party and the leadership made some milestones in achieving our 2006 Congress set goals.

In March 2008, we recorded an electoral victory in the first harmonised elections, where for the first time in the history of this country Robert Mugabe lost to President Morgan Tsvangirai. As a result of the 2008 elections outcome, we now control one of the key arms of Government being the legislature, where we have the majority Parliamentary seats and have the Speakership coming from our party.

Sadly, ZPF wanted to reverse the gains of the people by dethroning the Speaker. Fortunately, by the grace of the Almighty God, we defeated them again on the 29th of March 2011.

For that reason, l therefore would like to thank all of you for the sacrifices and contributions you have made to this democratic struggle so far.

l say to all, may we continue with the good work that we have been doing and as leadership, we are deeply humbled by your dedication and zeal. As a party, we have also managed to gain control of most urban and rural local authorities.

This indeed shows that we have transformed from being an ordinary opposition that we were in our formative years to a serious political player that is capable of shaping the destiny of millions of our people.

In conclusion, l would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the President Morgan R Tsvangirai for being unanimously nominated by all the provinces, and by the Youth and Women's Assemblies. Indeed this is a clear demonstration by the MDC family of trust and confidence in your leadership since the formation of our party. May the Almighty God continue to give you wisdom, courage, good health and strength to lead us into a new Zimbabwe!

I am also glad to report to the Congress that yesterday till this morning, the women and youth successfully held their congress at Barbourfields Stadium and the Amphitheatre respectively, which saw the election of the new leadership for the next five years under the leadership of Theresa Makone and Solomon Madzore.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the people and wish them well.

I hope and trust that we will have a successful 3rd National Congress. May the Almighty God bless this Congress!

I thank you

Siyabonga,

Tinotenda,

Taboka!

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