Tsvangirai ‘very sick’ but he denies it

Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, was critically ill in a South African hospital and his supporters should “brace for the worst”, a party source with knowledge of his condition said on Tuesday.

Without its founder at the helm, Tsvangirai’s the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is likely to face immediate instability and could even split, handing a gift to new President Emmerson Mnangagwa in an election expected in the next six months.

Mnangagwa came to power in November after a de facto military coup against 93-yearold Robert Mugabe.

Tsvangirai, 65, has been in and out of hospital since disclosing in June 2016 that he had colon cancer. He returned to Johannesburg for his latest round of treatment in January.

“From the medical report that I received yesterday the situation is not looking good. He is critically ill and we should brace for the worst,” the source in Tsvangirai’s MDC said.

Tsvangirai’s Twitter feed contested the report, saying the former union leader was “shocked” to read of his worsening condition. “Of course I have cancer and not feeling too well but I am stable and the process is under control,” the feed said, adding: “I am recovering.”

Tsvangirai spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka said he was “stable but the nation should keep on praying”.