Founded on 6 March 2009, it was led by Daviz Simango, who was the Mayor of Beira.

It formed after breaking with RENAMO, the main opposition party.

[2] In the 28 October 2009 parliamentary election, the Mozambique Democratic Movement was not allowed to contest by the National Election Commission (Comissão Nacional de Eleições) in nine of the 13 voting constituencies on controversial procedural grounds.

[3] MDM secured 3.93% of the total vote and eight seats in the 250 member Assembly of the Republic.

[4] Daviz Simango was the MDM candidate in the presidential election held on the same day.