Tsvangirai hints at stepping down from power

by DANAI MWARUMBA
HARARE – LONGTIME Zimbabwe opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has given his strongest indication yet that he is considering retiring from active politics.

The former Prime Minister (65) who is battling ill-health, gave the hint during his belated New Year message.

In an emotional letter, Tsvangirai, who has led the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) since formation in 1999, said he was seriously pondering about the future.

“I am looking at the imminent prospects of us as the older generation leaving the levers of leadership to allow the younger generation to take forward this huge task that we started together so many years ago with our full blessing and support,” he said.

The former trade union leader hinted his battle with colon cancer was the reason he was contemplating on his future as president of Zimbabwe’s biggest opposition party.

“It was therefore not by accident but by design that when I disclosed to you my health status, I also took a bold step to appoint an additional two Vice Presidents to assist me,” Tsvangirai said.

Nelson Chamisa, Thokozani Khupe and Ellias Mudzuri are his deputies.

“As I have said before, while politicians only think about the next election, true statesmen think about the next generation, for current leaders are only but caretakers for future generations. We do not have any entitlement to lead but we have a duty to serve,” Tsvangirai said.

Tsvangirai statements come amid calls even from his party to step down.

The calls come months after his rival, Robert Mugabe, was deposed as president.

Tsvangirai has claimed violence and vote rigging had denied him victory against Mugabe at elections.

He nonetheless defeated him in 2008 but withdrew from the runoff poll after brutality against his supporters by the military, war veterans and Mugabe’s Zanu-PP supporters.

– CAJ News