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Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai dies aged 65 | Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai dies aged 65 |
(35 minutes later) | |
Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has died in South Africa, a senior official in his MDC party has said. | Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has died in South Africa, a senior official in his MDC party has said. |
Mr Tsvangirai, 65, a former prime minister, had reportedly been suffering from colon cancer. | Mr Tsvangirai, 65, a former prime minister, had reportedly been suffering from colon cancer. |
"He died this evening. The family communicated this to me," MDC vice president Elias Mudzuri told Reuters. | "He died this evening. The family communicated this to me," MDC vice president Elias Mudzuri told Reuters. |
Mr Tsvangirai's career was marked by a long political struggle against former President Robert Mugabe. | Mr Tsvangirai's career was marked by a long political struggle against former President Robert Mugabe. |
He had been beaten and imprisoned numerous times. | He had been beaten and imprisoned numerous times. |
Announcing Mr Tsvangirai's death, Mr Mudzuri said on Twitter that the MDC had "lost our icon and fighter for democracy". | |
Mr Tsvangirai founded the MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) in 2000, repeatedly challenging Mr Mugabe during the ex-president's long grip on power. | Mr Tsvangirai founded the MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) in 2000, repeatedly challenging Mr Mugabe during the ex-president's long grip on power. |
In the 2008 election, Mr Tsvangirai gained the most votes in the first round but not enough to win outright. | In the 2008 election, Mr Tsvangirai gained the most votes in the first round but not enough to win outright. |
Before the second round of voting, Mr Mugabe's security forces carried out a campaign of violence against opposition supporters, and Mr Tsvangirai withdrew. | Before the second round of voting, Mr Mugabe's security forces carried out a campaign of violence against opposition supporters, and Mr Tsvangirai withdrew. |
Mr Mugabe was declared the winner, but an international outcry over allegations of violence and vote-rigging led to a power sharing agreement in which Mr Tsvangirai would serve as prime minister. | Mr Mugabe was declared the winner, but an international outcry over allegations of violence and vote-rigging led to a power sharing agreement in which Mr Tsvangirai would serve as prime minister. |
Mr Tsvangirai ran against Mr Mugabe again in 2013 but lost by a landslide. | Mr Tsvangirai ran against Mr Mugabe again in 2013 but lost by a landslide. |
The MDC is said to be divided over who should lead it into elections later this year against the governing Zanu-PF party, led by Mr Mugabe's successor, Emmerson Mnangagwa. | The MDC is said to be divided over who should lead it into elections later this year against the governing Zanu-PF party, led by Mr Mugabe's successor, Emmerson Mnangagwa. |