Zimbabwe opposition icon Tsvangirai dies

AFP

16th February 2018

Zimbabwe was plunged into grief on Thursday following the death of veteran opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, roundly praised as a hero, champion of democracy and symbol of resistance who will be hard to replace.

The former trade union stalwart who posed the most formidable challenge to the ruling ZANU PF party’s nearly four-decade hold on power, died on Wednesday in a hospital in neighbouring South Africa where he was being treated for colon cancer. He was 65.

Zimbabwe’s new Presi­dent Emmerson Mnangagwa lauded his party’s arch-rival as “a strong trade unionist and opposition leader” and vowed free elections in honour of Tsvangirai who was assaulted, jailed and humiliated under his ZANU-PF government.

“We remember him for his insistence on free, fair and peaceful elections which we must validate in the forthcoming” elections “in tribute to him and to our democracy,” said Mnangagwa.

“This we owe him as political leaders of all contesting parties in our country which deserves unfettered peace and stability,” he said.

Tsvangirai’s death firmly places Mnangagwa, the ZANU PF veteran who took over after ousting veteran ruler Robert Mugabe, on the path to victory in elections that are to be held before July.

Infighting over who will succeed Tsvangirai is threatening to tear his opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party apart.

One of his three deputies Nelson Chamisa said in a post on twitter that the demise of Tsvangirai “is a huge blow to the party and the nation. As a party of excellence, we will unite, be disciplined and honour our hero”.

David Coltart, a fellow opposition leader said Tsvangirai will be remembered as “one of Zimbabwe’s greatest patriots” and that he deserves to be called a “hero”.