New MDC Party Cards Launched In Midlands North

MDC UK and Ireland chairman, Tonderai Samanyanga (centre), officiated at the Midlands North District launch of the new membership cards at Birmingham on Saturday – handing over the first batch of new cards to members who have paid for their new cards.  Midlands North Branches, Coventry, Nottingham, Birmingham and Walsall were represented by their executives at the launch.From left: Midlands North Organising Secretary Robert Hombiro, Women’s Chair Faith Kadyamarunga, Samanyanga, Mid North Chairman Solomon Matoro receiving the first of the new cards and his vice Herbert Mushangi, looking on.The new cards were printed in Harare after the membership and payments had been verified, and a unique membership number was recorded for every member in a new measure that was taken to counter fraudulent issuing of membership cards. Samanyanga urged members who have not paid for their cards to do so, as the next batch of cards was going to be ordered from Harare in the next few days. Other launches are also planned for South West District at Portsmouth on September 3, Midlands South District at Luton September 10 – coinciding with the MDC’s 12th Anniversary Celebrations for UK & Ireland External Assembly, and dates are yet to be confirmed for North and South East Districts. He urged those who had received their cards to maintain their subscription up-to-date and Treasurers at branch and district levels to keep up-to-date spreadsheets of their members’ subscriptions in order to keep records reconciled within their districts, in the External Assembly Executive and at the Head Office. Birmingham Branch which hosted the launch has already exceeded its initial twinning fundraising target for September. All branches are expected have raised at least £200 pounds towards their twinning programme by September. Under the twinning programme UK branches each adopt a constituency or several constituencies whose candidates their will support financially and by any other means. Former external executive members, who are members of Birmingham Branch, Jonathan Chawora and Mathew Nyashanu, were present with a large contingent of Birmingham members and former Birmingham secretary, Grey Samakande, who belted out Zimbabwean favorites from his disco. Samanyanga said the External Assembly recruiting programme was well on course and the assembly was well on course to deliver a twinning programme that would ensure 100 percent victory for the MDC. Another innovative programme in MDC UK is the MDC HQ Resources Centre and Library Project whereby members are donating their old text-books in any field for onward delivery to the MDC HQ for its resource centre and library now under construction in Harare. Members should bring text-books to all their meetings and branches should then contact Economic Affairs Secretary Elliot Pfebve who is the manager of the project, to collect the donations of books or equipment on behalf of the External Assembly. Samanyanga also announced that in two weeks members of his executive would attend a hand over ceremony where the University of Cambridge will also hand over some books for the project. Victims of the Robert Mugabe regime violence would also benefit from a schme which is mostly supported by the Women’s wing of the MDC UK. Midlands North Chairlady Faith Kadyamarunga said the district’s Victims Fund kicked off two weeks ago with a women’s district function hosted by Birmingham women. She urged women’s wings at branches to follow suite in order to deliver the necessary support for victims of the violence perpetrated on innocent Zimbabweans by the regime. The launching ceremony involved handing over the first few cards to District officials and Branch Chairs who were present, starting with Midlands North District Chairman Solomon Matoro who was jubilantly humbled, followed by the rest of the executive including District Vice Chair, Hebert Mushangi, District Secretary Edward Zvavareyi (centre), District Treasurer, Kumbirai Chikosha (kissing his card), District Organising Secretary Robert Hombiro, District Assembly for Women Chair, Faith Kadyamarunga and district Information and Publicity Secretary Makusha Mugabe who was not present for the ceremony. Next were hosting branch chairman Izwi Muyambi, Coventry Branch chairman, Winston Matemadombo and Ebert Gono, vice chair of Nottingham Branch and Michael Ngulube, the organising secretary for Nottingham. MDC Youths were also present washing cars as part of their fundraising activity which complemented Birmingham Branch’s “gotchi gotchi” – a braai with traditional Zimbabwean meals and or course beer galore.