Morgan Tsvangirai

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Morgan Tsvangirai

Born	March 10, 1952 (age 55) Gutu, Zimbabwe
Political party	Movement for Democratic Change

Zimbabwe
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Morgan Tsvangirai, (IPA pronunciation: ['mɔ(r)gən ˌtʃæŋgə'raι]; born March 10, 1952) is a Zimbabwean politician and trade unionist and the leader and founder of the Movement for Democratic Change, the opposition party in Zimbabwe.

1 Early life
2 Trade union politics and constitutional reform
3 National politics
4 Treason cases
5 March 2007 arrests
- 5.1 International reaction to recent political violence
6 Notes and references
7 External links

[edit] Early life

Tsvangirai was born into the Shona ethnic group in the Gutu area in central Zimbabwe, the eldest of nine children and the son of a carpenter and bricklayer. After leaving school early, in 1974 he started working for the Trojan Nickel Mine in Mashonaland Central. He spent ten years at the mine, rising from plant operator to general foreman.

[edit] Trade union politics and constitutional reform

Tsvangirai is a product of important social movements in Zimbabwe, which include the labour and constitutional reform movements. He is the former Secretary General of the powerful Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and is the founding chairperson of the National Constitutional Assembly, a group that advocates for a new constitution for Zimbabwe.

Tsvangirai became branch chairman of the Associated Mine Workers Union and was later elected into the executive of the National Mine Workers Union, and in 1988 he became the Secretary-General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, the umbrella trade union organization in the country.

It was Tsvangirai who led the ZCTU away from its alliance with the ruling Zanu PF. As his power and that of the movement grew, his relationship with the Government deteriorated. He has also been a victim of premeditated and government inspired harassment and violence. There have been three assassination attempts,^[1], which include the 1997 attempt, where unknown assailants burst into his tenth story office and tried to throw him out of the window.

[edit] National politics

In 1999, he founded and organized the Movement for Democratic Change, an opposition party opposed to Mugabe's rule.

Tsvangirai lost the March 2002 presidential election to Robert Mugabe of the ruling Zanu-PF party. The election provoked widespread allegations that Mugabe had rigged the election, through the use of violence, media bias, and manipulation of the voter's roll leading to abnormally high pro-Mugabe turnout in some areas. Since the 2002 presidential elections the MDC has been increasingly losing support. In the 2005 paliamentary elections MDC captured 41 seats against ZANU PF's 78 seats.

[edit] Treason cases

Tsvangirai was arrested after the 2000 elections and charged with treason; this charge was later dismissed. Ari Ben-Menashe, with whom Tsvangirai allegedly plotted the assassination of President Mugabe, called Tsvangirai "stupid for even talking with him".^[2]^[3] In 2004, Tsvangirai was acquitted of treason for an alleged plot to assassinate Mugabe in the run-up to the 2002 presidential elections. George Bizos, a South African human rights lawyer who was part of the team that defended Nelson Mandela, headed Tsvangirai's defence team.

[edit] March 2007 arrests

This article documents a current event.
Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

On March 11, 2007, a day after his 55th birthday, Tsvangirai was arrested on his way to a prayer rally in the Harare township of Highfield.^[4] His wife was allowed to see him in prison, after which she reported that he had been heavily tortured by police, resulting in deep gashes on his head and a badly swollen eye.^[5]

According to Tendai Biti, a MP who was arrested along with Tsvangirai, Tsvangirai suffered a cracked skull and "must have passed out at least three times." Tsvangirai was subsequently admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at a local hospital.^[6] Reports from BBC News indicate that Tsvangirai suffered from a fractured skull and received blood transfusions for internal bleeding. Although the incident was a clear case of political violence ordered by Robert Mugabe, Tsvangirai has since had very little political support from surrounding African countries.^[7]

Tsvangirai was released, but on March 28, Zimbabwean police stormed Tsvangirai's office and once again arrested him, hours before he was to speak with the media about recent political violence in the country.^[8]

[edit] International reaction to recent political violence

Australia - Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said in a statement that the Zimbabwe government should immediately release those arrested, to lift the ban on political activity and to implement immediate reforms. The statement takes direct aim at the policies of President Mugabe, stating that:

"(the arrests) are clear signs of the Mugabe Government’s desperation to cling to power in the face of its growing unpopularity amongst the people of Zimbabwe. The Mugabe Government’s disastrous policies have crippled a once thriving economy, leaving Zimbabweans enduring hyper-inflation at over 1600%, over 80% of the population unemployed and living below the poverty line and with the lowest life expectancy of any country in the world."^[9]

Canada - On March 12, Foreign Minister Peter MacKay issued a statement condemning the violence in Zimbabwe and simultaneously calling for the release of all arrested.^[10]

Ireland - In a statement, Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern condemned the actions of the Zimbabwe authorities and called on that country's government to immediately cease all such activities and to adopt a new policy of dialogue and engagement with the outside world.^[11]

Mauritius - The Government of Mauritius issued a communiqué on March 19, in which it stated that it viewed:

"with concern the arrest, detention and assault of the opposition leaders..." It went on to urge that the Government of Zimbabwe "...ensure that the basic rights and fundamental freedoms of all Zimbabweans are observed."^[12]

New Zealand - Foreign Minister Winston Peters called for the immediate release of Morgan Tsvangirai and his colleagues.^[13]

UK — British Prime Minister Tony Blair's comments on the events of March 11 were:

"People should be able to live under the rule of law. They should be able to express their political views without harassment or intimidation or violence. And what is happening in Zimbabwe is truly tragic".^[14]

South Africa - South African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad has gone on the record saying that:

South Africa is "concerned" about the crackdown. And has asked the Zimbabwean government "to ensure that the rule of law including respect for rights of all Zimbabweans and leaders of various political parties is respected."^[15]

Sweden — Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt says in his official blog:^[16]

"It's totally obvious that the brutal acts of cruelty against freedom of assembly and freedom of speech committed by the Zimbabwean government during the peaceful meeting of prayers on March 11 must be firmly condemned"

USA — The United States is considering further sanctions against the leadership of Zimbabwe following the event.^[17]