Morgan Tsvangirai

Morgan Richard Tsvangirai ( born March 10, 1952 in Buhera ) is a Zimbabwean politician. From 11 February 2009 to 31 July 2013 he was Prime Minister of the country. The former union leader is chairman of the long-standing opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC, German Movement for Democratic Change ).

In the presidential elections in Zimbabwe in March 2008, the MDC won the majority according to its own description, however, the disputed official results do not confirm this.

After lengthy negotiations, Tsvangirai agreed with President Robert Mugabe to form a government of national unity in which Mugabe continues to play the role of the President and thus Head of State, while Tsvangirai became prime minister.

Life and Politics

Tsvangirai was born as the eldest son of a bricklayer. In 1999 he was involved in the founding of the MDC. He is one of the sharpest critics of the autocratic ruler Robert Mugabe. His greatest political triumph Tsvangirai reached in 2000, when his MDC could get half the votes in the parliamentary elections. After the elections, however, there was a disagreement within the opposition, so that Mugabe, in contrast to the fractious opposition strengthened ultimately emerged from the elections.

Since then, there were more massive human rights violations against Tsvangirai and other party members: There were injuries, Tsvangirai's close associates were killed and he himself had to stand trial for treason several times in court. On 11 March 2007, he was severely mistreated after his arrest in connection with a dissident demonstration of police, said he suffered a skull fracture. A few days later he was set free again.

In the presidential elections in March 2008 Tsvangirai ran against incumbent Robert Mugabe and the independent candidate Simba Makoni. Tsvangirai at the beginning of April 2008 saw a clear lead, refusing a favored Mugabe runoff from first. This was necessary since, according to the controversial official result no candidate had achieved an absolute majority. On 9 May, he agreed, under certain conditions willing to participate in the runoff, he withdrew his candidacy but on 22 June because of increasing violence against MDC supporters back.

Beginning of September 2008, Mugabe and Tsvangirai agreed with the mediation of South African President Thabo Mbeki on a power-sharing. The persecuted opposition leaders should be involved in the government. An agreement was signed at an official ceremony on 15 September 2008. The negotiations about the distribution of key ministries lasted months; on 11 February 2009 Tsvangirai was sworn in as Prime Minister.

On 6 March 2009 the car the couple Tsvangirai collided with the truck of an aid organization, which worked for the British and American government in Zimbabwe. The couple had been traveling to an election rally after Buhera. During the accident Tsvangirai was seriously injured, his wife Susan died at the scene.

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