SHOVEL in hand, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai plants a palm tree in his late wife’s memory, then stands back and looks at his handy job, emotions etched on his face.
These were the scenes at Tsvangirai’s Strathaven home on Sunday as family and friends came together to remember Susan Tsvangirai, who died in a horrific car crash on March 6 last year.
Tsvangirai, helped by his son Edwin, specifically chose the tree from a handful of others.
Following the private ceremony, Tsvangirai attended a public memorial at the Glamis Stadium in Harare held under the theme “Celebrating a Legacy of Humility, Courage, Compassion and Love”.
Tsvangirai said: “One person can make a positive difference. For me, she was not only a wife, but a mother, a consultant, an advisor and a friend.
“She made a positive difference in my life.”
The passage of a year of mourning his wife will likely trigger speculation about the Prime Minister’s private life, although his aides say no announcement of a new romance is imminent.
Political commentator Pedzisai Ruhanya cautioned: “History has shown that the wives of political players are sources of stability or instability to the political life of their husbands.
“They can be sources of wise counsel to their spouses and can help prolong their incumbency. In the case of Tsvangirai, this is so critical because his recovery from that sad episode in his life can possibly determine his political life.
“It is also possible that him moving on to a new romance can also be the source of his downfall or political Waterloo, if not handled properly.”