On 26 February 1999 over 300 men and women from all walks of life converged at the women’s bureau in Hillside Harare for two days and they divided themselves into various committees and sub committees. During this convention key resolutions were adopted and chief among those resolutions was resolution number 11 which gave rise to the formation of the working people’s convention.

The working people’s convention then gave birth to a political movement the movement for democratic change on the 11th of September 1999 at Rufaro stadium in Harare. The MDC was then formed on the basis of carrying on the struggle of the people, the struggle for jobs, decency and democracy, equal distribution of resources, justice, transparency and equality of all Zimbabweans. Against this backdrop the MDC became a logical continuation and conclusion of the full realisation of the rights of the black man and woman of Zimbabwe.  

On 26 January 2000 the party had its inaugural congress at the Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex. Morgan Tsvangirai became President. A constitution for the party was written primarily by David Coltart and Lovemore Madhuku.

A general election was held on the 26th of June in which the MDC officially won 57 seats and Zanu-pf 61 seats. However violence intensified after June 2000.Hundreds of party members were killed and thousands displaced. Thus fascism became the party’s number one enemy between 2000 and now.

The presidential election of March 2002 was stolen but the party remained steadfast in its endeavour to bring about a new Zimbabwe.

Towards the end of 2002 Morgan Tsvangirai was arrested on treason charges of hatching a plot to assassinate Robert Mugabe. This resulted in a year long treason trial which culminated in his acquittal on 15 October 2004.

In the subsequent years the party acquired various assets, including Harvest house the party’s headquarters to date.

In June 2003 the party engaged in the final push a week long demonstration meant to push Mugabe out of power which eventually led to the arrest of Morgan Tsvangirai on Saturday, 7 June 2003.

In 2005 the party “with a heavy heart” participated in the parliamentary election which was against a background of massive violence and intimidation and an uneven electoral playing field. The party won 41 seats of the 120 contested seats.

Prior to The split in 2005 ideological differences had already begun from as far back as 2002. Another group favoured negotiating with Zanu-pf whilst the other group preferred mass action and mass resistance as the only way to deal with the dictator. Tribalism, violence, corruption were attributed to the centre of the split. Eventually on 12th of October the party split.

On the 16-19 March 2006 the MDC held its watershed congress and substantial resolutions were passed, peaceful and democratic means to push the aged dictator out were to be the hallmark of the congress to date as the MDC has managed to beat Zanu-pf through democratic means without firing even a single bullet.

On 11 March 2007 The MDC organised a prayer rally that was violently quashed by police. The bashing left Morgan Tsvangirai, Grace Kwinjeh, Thokozani Khupe,Lovemore Madhuku and others hospitalised. This brutal crusade on the MDC leadership culminated in the negotiations taking place and indeed Mugabe wailing, screaming and pulling his hair finally came to the negotiating table.

Harmonised elections on the 29th of March 2008 were called for and they were to be monitored by SADC, PAP, and the AU. South African President Thabo Mbeki was the facilitator and overseer of the electoral process that went on under relatively free and fair conditions. The MDC won resoundingly in parliament and local government and although we grudgingly did not manage to get an outright victory in the presidential election a run –off was called where Mugabe ordered in his politburo a war-like campaign which was spearheaded by the Army, CIO, police and war veterans which culminated in the death of more than a hundred MDC members and displaced thousands of MDC members.

On 22 June 2008 the MDC pulled out of the 27 June run off citing massive violence, brutal abductions and the maiming of our members. Subsequently The 27 June election was declared a sham as Mugabe ran a one man show and polled 80% of the vote.

To starve off international pressure for Mugabe to step down Mbeki again initiated a second round of talks in July 2008 resulting in the signing of the MOU on 21 July 2008 and the GPA on 11 September 2008.The MDC realised the potential and essence to occupy the space offered by the inclusive government to create synergies facilitating the transfer of power.
 
On 25 August MDC national Chairman Lovemore Moyo was elected as the speaker of Parliament a post that was held by Zanu-pf since independence in 1980.

On the 11th of January Morgan Tsvangirai was inaugurated as the right Honourable Prime Minister of Zimbabwe and he readily took oath of office. Several MDC ministers are now in office and executing their duties dutifully.