Morgan Tsvangirai (Shona IPA: [tsvaŋgiˈra.i] (the 's' and the 'v' are coärticulated), English ?) born March 10, 1952) is a trade unionist, human rights activist, Democrat and President of the mainstream ^[1] Movement for Democratic Change, the main opposition party in Zimbabwe. This page contains a list of presidents of Zimbabwe. ... Mugabe redirects here. ... Categories: | | ... The Parliament of Zimbabwe consists of two chambers: The Senate (Upper Chamber) The House of Assembly (Lower Chamber) This politics-related article is a stub. ... The Senate of Zimbabwe is the upper chamber of the countrys bicameral Parliament. ... The House of Assembly of Zimbabwe is the lower chamber of the countrys bicameral Parliament. ... This is a list of flags used in Zimbabwe between 1980 and the present date. ... A political crisis began in Zimbabwe on 11 March 2007 when opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was beaten and tortured after being arrested, prompting widespread domestic and international criticism. ... This is a list of political parties of Zimbabwe Current Parties Movement for Democratic Change National Alliance for Good Governance Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front - ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Ndonga Zimbabwe Peoples Democratic Party Zimbabwe Youth in Alliance International Socialist Organisation Conservative Alliance of Zimbabwe - At one... The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) is a Zimbabwean Socialist party that has been the ruling political party in Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, led by Robert Mugabe, first as Prime Minister with the party simply known as ZANU, and then as President from 1988 after taking... The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is a Zimbabwean political party now split. ... Politics of Zimbabwe Categories: Election related stubs | Elections in Zimbabwe ... Presidential elections will be held in Zimbabwe in March 2008. ... Poster of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change accusing the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front of election fraud Parliamentary elections were held in Zimbabwe on March 31, 2005. ... Parliamentary elections will be held in Zimbabwe in 2008, instead of 2010 as scheduled,[1] to hold them at the same time as the presidential elections. ... Zimbabwe is divided into 8 provinces and 2 cities with provincial status: Bulawayo (city) Harare (city) Manicaland Mashonaland Central Mashonaland East Mashonaland West Masvingo Matabeleland North Matabeleland South Midlands Categories: | ... Districts of Zimbabwe The Provinces of Zimbabwe are divided into 59 districts and 1,200 municipalities. ... The Districts of Zimbabwe are divided into 1,200 municipalities. ... There are widespread reports of systematic and escalating violations of human rights in Zimbabwe under the rule of President Robert Mugabe and his party ZANU-PF. According to human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch the government of Zimbabwe violates the rights to shelter, food, freedom... Since independence, Zimbabwe has enunciated and follows a policy of active nonalignment. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... ShonaThe word Shona is derived from the Ndebele word itshonalanga(where the sun set)(or ChiShona) is native language of Zimbabwe and southern Zambia; the term is also used to identify those Bantu-language speaking peoples in Southern Africa who speak one of the Shona languages(dialects) namely Zezuru,Karanga... March 10 is the 69th day of the year (70th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1952 (MCMLII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A union (labor union in American English; trade union, sometimes trades union, in British English; either labour union or trade union in Canadian English) is a legal entity consisting of employees or workers having a common interest, such as all the assembly workers for one employer, or all the workers... Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ... Look up democrat in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, trade unions, universities, and countries. ... Look up mainstream in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is a Zimbabwean political party now split. ...

Early life

Tsvangirai was born in the Gutu area in then-Southern Rhodesia, 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. Gutu is a village in Masvingo Province in Zimbabwe. ... Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated immediately to the north of South Africa, known today as Zimbabwe. ...

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 1989 he became the Secretary-General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, the umbrella trade union organization in the country. The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions is the dominant central trade union federation in Zimbabwe. ...

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,^[2], which include the 1997 attempt, where unknown assailants burst into his tenth story office and tried to throw him out of the window. The Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) has been the ruling party in Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, led by Robert Mugabe, first as Prime Minister with the party simply known as ZANU, and then as President from 1988 after taking over ZAPU and renaming the party ZANU... Look up defenestration in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

National politics

MDC Congress 2005, Morgan Tsvangirai waves to delegates as he arrives at the MDC second congress in March 2005,where he was reelected for a second term as leader unopposed.

In 1999 he founded and organized the Movement for Democratic Change, an opposition party opposed to Mugabe's rule. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... MDC, symbol an open palm with its boarders in black on a white background encircled by the party’s slogan “Chinja maitiro” “Guqula izenzo” written in black. ... The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is a Zimbabwean political party now split. ... Mugabe redirects here. ...

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. Mugabe redirects here. ... The Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) has been the ruling party in Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, led by Robert Mugabe, first as Prime Minister with the party simply known as ZANU, and then as President from 1988 after taking over ZAPU and renaming the party ZANU... Elections Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an election. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

Treason cases

Tsvangirai was arrested after the 2000 elections and charged with treason; this charge was later dismissed. ^[3][4] 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. For other uses, see Treason (disambiguation) or Traitor (disambiguation). ... George Bizos born 1928 in Greece, is a distinguished human rights advocate who defended against apartheid in South Africa. ... For other people named Mandela, or other uses, see Mandela. ...

Gukurahundi massacre

Three years after Zimbabwe got its independence, Robert Mugabe ordered the army to descend on the people of Matebeland and punish them for their loyalty to Joshua Nkomo.The operation was code named Gukurahundi. Morgan Tsvangirai questioned the motive of the massacre with the ZANU PF leadership in 1984 ^[5].To date he has periodically toured the mass graves of the victims in Tsholotsho,Kezi, Lupane,Nkayi and other places in Rural Matebeland. Addressing villagers in Maphisa in 2001 he said,“This was a barbaric operation by Zanu PF.It should never have happened. “It was a sad episode in our history and the MDC will obviously want to see justice being done if it comes to power. Such human rights abuses should be revisited and those responsible will have to account for their actions.” ^{[6] [7]} Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo (June 19, 1917 – July 1, 1999) was a Zimbabwean nationalist leader and revolutionary, a member of the Ndebele (or Matebele) ethnic group, and the leader and founder of the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU). ... Gukurahundi is a traditional term in Shona (one of Zimbabwes native languages), which means the early rain which washes away the chaff before the spring rains. The chaff, i. ... Tsholotsho (formerly known as Tjolotjo) is a village in Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe and is located about 65km north-west of Nyamandhlovu in the Tjolotjo communal land. ...

National Constitutional Assembly

Morgan Tsvangirai served as Chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) in 1997 which was formed as a grouping of individual Zimbabwean citizens and civic organisations including, labour movements, student and youth groups, women groups, churches, business groups and human rights organisations. These individuals and groups formed the NCA to campaign for constitutional reform after realizing that the political, social and economic problems affecting Zimbabwe were mainly a result of the defective Lancaster House Constitution and can only be resolved through a new and democratic constitution. He stepped down after being elected president of the MDC. ^[8] This article needs to be wikified. ...

The SOLIDAR Silver Rose Award

In 2001 Morgan Tsvangirai was awarded the prestigious 2001 Solidar Silver Rose Award.The award was for outstanding achievement by an individual or organisation in the activities of civil society and in bringing about a fairer and more just society.

At a crucial period for world stability, the Solidar Silver Rose Award winners “show the positive change that can be brought about by determined individuals and organisations”, the citation read.^[9]

October 2000 arrest

Tsvangirai was arrested after the government alleged that he had threatened President Robert Mugabe. The Movement for Democratic Change leader had told 40,000 supporters at a rally in Harare that if Mr Mugabe did not want to step down before the next elections scheduled for 2002 "we will remove you violently". Map of Zimbabwe showing the location of Harare. ...

"However Tsvangirai said that he was giving a warning to President Mugabe to consider history. There is a long line of dictators who have refused to go peacefully - and the people have removed them violently," he said.

The courts dismissed the charges.^[10]

June 2003 arrest

In May 2003 Tsvangirai was arrested on a Friday afternoon shortly after giving a press conference, the government alleged he had incited violence. In the press conference he had said:

"From Monday, June 2, up to today June 6, Mugabe was not in charge of this country.
He was busy marshaling his forces of repression against the sovereign will of the people of Zimbabwe.
However, even in the context of the brutalities inflicted upon them, the people's spirit of resistance was not broken.
The sound of gunfire will never silence their demand for change and freedom."
^[11]

Face of Courage: Morgan Tsvangirai

Is a biography of Morgan Tsvangirai written by Sarah Huddlestone , tracing his trade union roots, his rise to the leadership of the Movement for Democratic Change and the Mugabe regime’s attempts to implicate him in a clumsy treason plot. ^[12] The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is a Zimbabwean political party now split. ...

Face of Courage:Morgan Tsvangirai

March 2007 beating and arrest

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.^[13] is the 70th day of the year (71st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Highfield is a high density surburb in Harare, Zimbabwe. ...

Morgan Tsvangirai talks to the media from his hospital bed after being arrested and beaten.

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.^[14]. The event garnered an international outcry and was considered particularly brutal and extreme, even for a regime as nefarious as Mugabe's. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

He was tortured by a crack commando unit based at the army’s Cranborne Barracks on March 12, 2007 after being arrested and held at Machipisa Police Station in the Highfield suburb of Harare. Special Forces in the Zimbabwe National Army consists of One Commando Battalion with 1100 men and base at Cranborne Barracks, Harare One Parachute Battalion, each with 1100 men and based at Inkomo Barracks just North of Harare. ... is the 71st day of the year (72nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

"He was in bad shape, he was swollen very badly. He was bandaged on the head. You couldn't distinguish between the head and the face and he could not see properly," Innocent Chagonda, an attorney, told Reuters after visiting a Harare police station where Tsvangirai was being held.^[16]

A Zimbabwean freelance cameraman, Edward Chikombo smuggled out of the country of television pictures of the badly injured opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai after he was beaten. He was later abducted from his home in the Glenview township outside Harare. His body was later discovered on the weekend near the village of Darwendale, 80 kilometres west of the capital, Harare. This has been part of a pattern of abductions and punishment beatings that has become a terrifying nightly ritual in Zimbabwe, where scores of opposition activists and their relatives have been attacked by government sanctioned gangs using unmarked cars and police-issue weapons.^[17]

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.^[18] 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.^[19] Tendai Biti (born 6 August 1966) is a Zimbabwean politician and lawyer. ...

Raid at MDC headquarters

Tsvangirai was released, but on March 28, Zimbabwean police stormed the Movement for Democratic Change 44 Harvest House national headquarters and once again arrested him, hours before he was to speak with the media about recent political violence in the country.^[20] is the 87th day of the year (88th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 44 Harvest House also known simply as Harvest House is a six story building in Harare located at corner Nelson Mandela Avenue and Angwa Street it serves as the National Headquarters of the Movement for Democratic Change party in Zimbabwe. ...

International reaction to political violence

The arrest of Tsvangirai and a crackdown on opposition officials that followed was widely condemned.

 Australia - Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said in a statement that the Zimbabwe government should immediately release those arrested, lift the ban on political activity and implement immediate reforms. The statement takes direct aim at the policies of President Mugabe, stating that: Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Alexander John Gosse Downer, MP (born 9 September 1951), Australian politician, became Foreign Minister of Australia in March 1996 This makes him the longest serving Foreign Minister in Australian history. ...

"(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."^[21]

 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.^[22] Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... is the 71st day of the year (72nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Peter Gordon MacKay, Conservative, QC, MP (born September 27, 1965) serves as the member of Parliament (MP) for Central Nova, Nova Scotia, Canadas Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. ...

 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.^[23] Image File history File links Flag_of_Ireland. ... Dermot Ahern (born 2 February 1955) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician who currently serves as the Minister for Foreign Affairs. ...

 Mauritius - The Government of Mauritius issued a communiqué on March 19, in which it stated that it viewed: Image File history File links Flag_of_Mauritius. ... is the 78th day of the year (79th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

"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."^[24]

 New Zealand - Foreign Minister Winston Peters called for the immediate release of Tsvangirai and his colleagues.^[25] Image File history File links Flag_of_New_Zealand. ... Winston Raymond Peters, PC, (born April 11, 1945) is a New Zealand politician and the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, outside cabinet. ...

 UK — British Prime Minister Tony Blair's comments on the events of March 11 were: Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... is the 70th day of the year (71st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

"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".^[26]

 South Africa - South African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad has gone on the record saying that: Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Africa. ... Aziz Pahad, South African Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad (born December 25, 1940) is deputy minister of foreign affairs in South Africa. ...

South Africa is concerned about the crackdown and 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."^[27]

 Sweden — Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt says in his official blog:^[28] Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ...   (born July 15, 1949) is a Swedish politician and diplomat, currently serving as Minister for Foreign Affairs in the cabinet of Fredrik Reinfeldt. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

"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.^[29] Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ...

Wikinews has related news:

• Zimbabwe police break up rally, detain leaders
• Zimbabwean opposition leader in intensive care after arrest

Image File history File links WikiNews-Logo. ... Wikinews is a free-content news source and a project of the Wikimedia Foundation. ...

Meeting with John Howard

Tsvangirai met Prime Minister of Australia John Howard in Melbourne,and after talks told the media that countries like Australia can play a very important role in the struggle against President Robert Mugabe's regime. ^{[30] [31]} The Prime Minister of Australia is the head of government of Australia, holding office on commission from the Governor-General. ... John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian politician and the 25th Prime Minister of Australia. ... This article is about the Australian city; the name may also refer to City of Melbourne or Melbourne city centre. ...

Tsvangirai meets Mbeki over Zimbabwe Crisis

In September 2007 it was widely reported that Tsvangirai met Thabo Mbeki, the President of South Africa for crucial talks with on how to speed up talks between the ruling ZANU PF and the Movement for Democratic Change party. ^[32]

Tsvangirai's bodyguard killed

On 25 October 2007 it was reported that Nhamo Musekiwa who was Morgan Tsvangirai's bodyguard since the formation of the MDC in 1999, had died from complication resulting from injuries sustained in March 2003 during a crackdown by the government. The MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said Musekiwa had been vomiting blood since March 11, when he is alleged to have been severely beaten by police along with other opposition officials and members including Tsvangirai himself. That day police halted a prayer meeting and in the ensuing confrontation one MDC activist was shot dead. ^{[33] [34]} Nelson Chamisa (born February 28, 1978)[1] is a Zimbabwean politician, member of the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe for Kuwadzana, Harare, spokesperson for the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC),[2] and national youth chairperson for that party. ...

Further reading

• Sarah Huddlestone; Face of Courage:Morgan Tsvangirai; ISBN-13: 978-1770130050 (2005)
• Stephen Chan; CITIZEN OF AFRICA: Conversations with Morgan Tsvangirai; ISBN 1-933146-22-2 (2005)
• George Bizos; ODYSSEY TO FREEDOM; ISBN 9780958419581 (2007)

George Bizos born 1928 in Greece, is a distinguished human rights advocate who defended against apartheid in South Africa. ...

References

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is a Zimbabwean political party now split. ... For other uses, see Guardian. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 100th day of the year (101st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... Zvakwana is an underground movement in Zimbabwe, that has come to light in 2004. ... Al Jazeera English is a 24-hour English-language news and current affairs TV channel headquartered in Doha, Qatar. ... The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ... is the 71st day of the year (72nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... The Mail & Guardian is a South African newspaper that was started by a group of journalists in 1985 after the closures of the two leading liberal newspapers, the Rand Daily Mail and Sunday Express. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 72nd day of the year (73rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Reuters Group plc (LSE: RTR and NASDAQ: RTRSY); pronounced is known as a financial market data provider and a news service that provides reports from around the world to newspapers and broadcasters. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 71st day of the year (72nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see The Independent (disambiguation). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 94th day of the year (95th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 73rd day of the year (74th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 72nd day of the year (73rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

See also

• History of Zimbabwe
• Timeline of Zimbabwe history

The history of Zimbabwe began with the transition to majority rule in 1980 and Britains ceremonial granting of independence. ... This is a timeline of the History of Zimbabwe. ...

External links

• MDC web site