The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has been plunged into fresh turmoil after one of its senior members, Shakespeare Mukoyi, forcibly took control of the party’s headquarters — the iconic Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House, commonly known as Harvest House.
Mukoyi, who serves as the party’s Secretary for Defence, stormed the premises on Wednesday, declaring that he had “evicted” party leader Douglas Mwonzora, accusing him of destroying what was once Zimbabwe’s most formidable opposition movement.
Speaking to journalists after taking over the building, Mukoyi said his actions were aimed at “defending the movement” from what he described as internal decay and betrayal.
“In the history of the MDC, even in hostile areas, we never had a polling station where we scored zero. Now, under Mwonzora, that has happened,” Mukoyi said.
“As Secretary for Defence, I have a duty to protect this movement from both internal and external adversaries.”
The dramatic takeover marks yet another chapter in the MDC’s long-running internal battles, which have intensified since the death of founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai in 2018. Once a united force that posed the biggest challenge to ZANU PF’s rule, the party has fractured into multiple factions, losing much of its political ground.
Under Mwonzora’s leadership, the MDC regained control of Harvest House in 2020 following a bitter legal and political fight with the MDC Alliance then led by Nelson Chamisa. The latest siege now threatens to undo that victory.
In a statement, the MDC leadership condemned Mukoyi’s actions, describing them as part of a wider plot to destabilise the party and advance President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s “2030 agenda.”
“It has come to the attention of the party that one of our comrades gone rogue, Shaky Mukoyi, has locked the party’s head office under false pretences. This opened an opportunity for those who have sold their souls to the regime,” the statement read.
The party vowed to reclaim its property, insisting that it remains under the lawful custodianship of the current leadership.
“We will not give in to extortion or lawlessness. MDC assets belong to bona fide members and are protected under the law. Thuggery and banditry are not part of MDC culture and will never be,” the party said.
MDC officials said they were working on legal measures to retake control of the building “within no time.”
The latest standoff at Harvest House underscores the deepening divisions within the once-powerful opposition party, as it struggles to redefine its identity and political relevance ahead of the next electoral cycle.
