Before Robert Mugabe was overthrown last year, he was a very
influential dictator for more than 35 years, and a very influential dictator needed
to have a very influential opposition leader to stand against him. Morgan
Tsvangirai filled that role perfectly. While he did have his flaws, he was able
to bring together a group of people who all hated Mugabe, even if they weren't
able to accomplish much to improve the country in the end.
Tsvangirai began his
career as a miner in 1974 and spent ten years at the mine, making his way from
plant operator to plant supervisor. After Zimbabwe gained independence from
Great Britain in 1980, he joined Mugabe's party and was originally an ardent supporter
of his. After becoming the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade
Unions in 1989, however, he slowly led the group away from Mugabe's party, and
his relationship with the government deteriorated. Ten years later, he
founded the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which became the main opposition
party against Mugabe. His first arrest came in October 2000, with the
government alleging that he threatened Mugabe, but the court dismissed those
charges.
He first attempted to
become president in 2002, and he was defeated in that election, with rumors of
Mugabe rigging it. In June 2003, he was arrested for allegedly inciting
violence, and in 2007, one day after his 55th birthday, he was arrested again
and beaten up. Despite these hardships, Tsvangirai persevered, and he ran for
president in the 2008 election. He actually won the first round of votes, but
because no candidate received 50% of the votes, they had to hold another round
of voting. These results were hotly contested by the MDC, and after increasing
violence in Zimbabwe, he had to withdraw from the second round of voting, and
Mugabe was once again elected president.
After negotiations with
Mugabe, it was eventually announced that Tsvangirai would become the second prime
minister of Zimbabwe, while Mugabe remained president, in order to form a unity
government, which angered some MDC voters. They were right to be angry, as Mugabe
did not honor this deal, and after Tsvangirai lost the presidential election
again in 2013, the prime minister position was abolished.
He was diagnosed with
colon cancer in 2016, and many deadpoolers became aware of him after reports of
him taking a turn for the worse last year. After reportedly becoming critically
ill on February 6, he died, at the age of 65, eight days later. Although
he never became president of Zimbabwe, he was at least able to see the fall of
a lifelong nemesis before he succumbed to his illness. He was worth 11 points
to six players: Fisher, gcreptile, Gerard Tierney, me (Joey Russ), Morlock, and
Pan Breed.
--Joey Russ
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