2005-11-25,+MDC+Senate+Press+Release,+MDC+RSA+DEC

= PRESS RELEASE: ON THE SENATE = 24 October 2005

The MDC RSA District Executive Committee (DEC) met at the party offices in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on 23 October 2005. The DEC met to discuss the current crisis following the National Council resolutions which voted in favour of participating in the senate elections.

The DEC is quite disturbed by the events in the party since the national council meeting in Harare on the 12th of October 2005. We feel that the personal attacks and violence directed to those who are upholding the decision of the national council is not justified and has to stop with immediate effect.

Our perspective is that the issue is not whether or not the MDC should participate in the senate elections. Our feeling is that the issue is about internal democracy. It is about respecting our party’s constitution as much as we are in support and are campaigning for the founding of a new democratic constitution for Zimbabwe.

Our position is that the issue of participating in the senate elections was resolved by the national council meeting when members voted 33-31 in favour of participating. The national council is the supreme decision making body of the party between congresses and its decisions are made on a simple majority vote.

The MDC constitution clearly states that:

6.1.1	It shall be the duty of the president : a)	to uphold and defend the party constitution; b)	to uphold and defend the principles of the party.

The MDC District Executive Committee in RSA has noted that the president of the party is still violating the constitution by campaigning against the decision of the national council. We are thus calling upon the president to respect the decision of the national council as provided for in the party constitution.

We also call upon members of the MDC to defend the principles of the party and avoid reversing the gains we have made in the past six years. The MDC was founded on principles which among others include democracy, freedom, transparency and justice.

Issued by:

______________________ Jabulani Mkwanazi MDC RSA DEC Chairman Contact: Information Office: 011 339 6669/ 084 824 4109