Zimbabwe: Standard cards for Movement for Democratic Change members; appearance of card; start date and location of issue; criteria for obtaining a card; ability to obtain a card from outside the country; presence of serial numbers on cards; receipts issued; correspondence of serial number on card to number on receipt; ability for non-members to buy a card
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 27 May 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ZWE38820.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Zimbabwe: Standard cards for Movement for Democratic Change members; appearance of card; start date and location of issue; criteria for obtaining a card; ability to obtain a card from outside the country; presence of serial numbers on cards; receipts issued; correspondence of serial number on card to number on receipt; ability for non-members to buy a card, 27 May 2002, ZWE38820.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4bed08.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to a representative of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in London, UK, MDC membership cards have an MDC symbol, the MDC Records Officer address: C/O PO Box 3549, Harare, the official cost (ten dollars) of the card, and the card number written on the bottom right hand corner (21 Apr. 2002). Cards are issued throughout the country, to anyone supporting the causes of the MDC (ibid.). There are no criteria for membership (ibid.). The representative further stated that there have been cases where members of the Liberty Party, in connivance with an MDC employee, obtained letters of support to asylum seekers allegedly from the MDC administration, then charged for the service (ibid.). This employee has since been fired (ibid.).
According to a representative of the MDC in Bulawayo province, Zimbabwe, anyone can become a member of the MDC (19 Apr. 2002). Receipts are issued, but the numbers do not correspond to those on the membership cards (ibid.). The representative did not know of cases where someone outside the country would obtain a membership card and did not think that would be allowed, since the party strives for democratic change within the country (ibid.).
An individual who buys a card becomes a member of the MDC; therefore, it is impossible for a non-member to buy a card (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), London, UK. 21 April 2002. Correspondence with a representative.
_____, Bulawayo province. 19 April 2002. Telephone interview with a representative.
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB Databases.
Internet sites including:
Amnesty International.
Human Rights Watch.
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
World News Connection (WNC).
Zimbabwe News.