Province mourns Tsvangirai
ZANU-PF Manicaland Province has joined the rest of the nation in mourning MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, who died in South Africa on Wednesday, describing him as the face of opposition in Zimbabwe.
The former Prime Minister succumbed to cancer of the colon at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre in Johannesburg.
Mr Tsvangirai, who hails from Buhera District, was 65.
Provincial chairman Cde Mike Madiro said they had received the sad news of the MDC-T leader’s death with great sorrow.
He said Mr Tsvangirai and the MDC-T party had managed to keep the ruling party on its toes, giving it checks and balances along the way.
“For a country to have a ruling party, A PROTRACTED labour dispute, which has been playing out for the past 15 years between Border Timbers and a former employee, has spilled into the High Court.
A founding affidavit filed in January 2004 by the ex-Border Timbers employee Simon Manjiche, claims that he was unlawfully dismissed on allegations of misconduct after management alleged that he had threatened a senior officer in a telephone conversation made in the office of the managing director.
Manjiche argued that there was lack of evidence to implicate him.
He also argued that in any case, if such evidence was available, the offence only warranted a suspension.
Manjiche alleged that he was victimised for refusing to endorse an inexperienced fire tower attendant who had been hired by management.
“My refusal to endorse an individual who did not have any basic training or the prerequisite skills for such a position triggered bad blood between me and management,” he said. there should be an opposition party. Save, as Mr Tsvangirai was known by his followers, formed an opposition party that was always tracking the ruling party Zanu-PF,” he said.
“His party grew each day until it became the face of opposition in this country. Save politically matured over the years and his party grew to be the face of opposition,” he said.
Cde Madiro said the party will treasure the contribution made by the late MDC-T leader to the nation during the time he served in Government as Prime Minister.
Those left behind in the opposition, he said, will not be able to fill the shoes left by the late Mr Tsvangirai.
“Those who have been left by Tsvangirai will never meet the leadership qualities that were exhibited by him. It is true that he made his own mistakes, tinoti afa anaka, but the ones who were left are not yet mature to his levels,” he said.
MDC-T Manicaland provincial chairman Mr David Chimhini said their leader should be declared a national hero considering the work he has done for the country.
“It is a great loss to the party and the nation at large. I think he has left a great legacy. He was a nationalist, irrespective of his political affiliation. He was a democratic leader who deserves to be at the Heroes Acre,” he said.
One of MDC founding members, Mr Giles Mutsekwa, said he hoped that the remaining party leaders will carry their leader’s vision.
He thanked Government for assisting during the time the MDC-T leader was struggling with colon cancer.
“I would like to thank the Government for helping in the repatriation of the body from South Africa.
“I would also like to urge the MDC to go into the forthcoming elections peacefully and fulfil Tsvangirai’s vision of a democratic society. We hope that his ideals will live forever,” he said.