MDC-T activist and women’s rights advocate Grace Kwinjeh has been honoured by the party for coming up with the name 'Movement for Democratic Change' at its formation.
Not many Zimbabweans, except party insiders, knew the name of the person who coined the name MDC, until Saturday's 12th anniversary celebrations held at Gwanzura Stadium.
The 37 year-old Kwinjeh, a journalist by profession, was among a number of party activists and stalwarts who were recognised for their leading roles in the formation of the party and for keeping it going.
Others honoured during the celebrations were party leader Morgan Tsvangirai, for his leadership and courage, Ernest Mudavanhu for coming up with the party slogan, (Chinja Maitiro/Guqula Izenzo) and Cephas Makuyana, a veteran trade unionist, for being the first master of ceremonies at an MDC rally.
Manicaland and Masvingo were recognised for being the two provinces with the most MPs from the MDC-T while Binga was recognised for faithfully voting MDC despite intimidation and harassment.
A small group of MDC cadres is credited with forming the party at the Avondale flat of UK-based lawyer Yvonne Mahlunge Gwashawanhu in 1999 – weeks before its public launch at a rally. Present were Kwinjeh, Welshman Ncube, Gibson Sibanda, Tendai Biti, Fletcher Dulini Ncube, Sekai Holland, Esaph Mdlongwa, Learnmore Jongwe, Isaac Maphosa, Priscilla Misihariabwi-Mushonga and Paul Themba Nyathi.
An ecstatic Kwinjeh, who is now the party's Global Advocacy Campaign Representative in Brussels, Belgium, told SW Radio Africa that she remembers vividly how she came up with the party name.
She said: “We discussed many options but I remember specifically explaining that we are a movement that is demanding change through the ballot box. Others suggested ‘Workers’ Party’ because of the trade union base, but then that would have excluded students, women and others.
“I explained the concept, putting into context the definition of the name of a people's movement that would not only take Zimbabweans by storm but Africa and the world too. That's how the name MDC was born.”
The former journalist and fierce critic of the Robert Mugabe’s regime has been arrested several times, but never prosecuted. She was one of the civic and political leaders brutally tortured on March 11, 2007.