TSVANGIRAI

FORMER MDC-T Leader, Morgan Tsvangirai died on Wednesday evening following a long battle with cancer.

Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai (65) following a long battle with cancer of the colon.

Tsvangirai had been in and out of hospital after revealing to the world that he was diagnosed with cancer in 2016.

A former labor union leader, opposed former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in every election since 2000 and won a first round presidential vote in 2008 before backing out of the second round, citing violence against his supporters.

Morgan Tsvangirai was born on March 10, 1952 in Gutu, Zimbabwe.

His father was a mine worker, carpenter, and farmer.

He attended St. Marks Goneso Primary School Hwedza. He then transferred to Chikara Primary School Gutu. For his secondary education, he attended Gokomere High School.

He served as prime minister in a coalition government from 2009 to 2013.

In his early career he proved to be an extremely hard worker and worked in a nickel mine for over a decade.

He quickly gained recognition and rose in the ranks of the Mine Workers Union eventually becoming secretary-general.

Over the years his political opposition to the current administration grew stronger.

After failing at an attempt to create a new constitution to dethrone President Robert Mugabe he formed a new political party. This group became the strongest opposition in the country’s history.

He made attempts to run against him in a valid election but Mugabe’s administration responded with intimidation, threats, and even arrest.

As a result, Tsvangirai was arrested three times for treason against his government. Though all the charges were eventually dropped, he made little success in chipping away at the dictator’s power.

He succeeded in creating a power-sharing government in which he was named prime minister. Though he was never able to defeat Mugabe in any election he has made the government’s abuse of power an international issue.

He had eight younger brothers and sisters and the family faced financially difficulty. Because of this, as soon as he could, he left the school to seek employment to help his family.

1972, he got his first job. He worked as a trainee weaver for Elastics & Tapes textile factory in Mutare.

In 1974, he began working at Trojan Nickel Mine. During this time he also became an active participant of the Associated Mineworkers Union.

He continued working in the mine gaining recognition. This resulted in the Mine Workers Union electing him vice president in 1985.

In 1988, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions made him secretary-general.