Tsvangirai's father dies

Tsvangirai's father dies

• INTERVIEW Part 2: Moyo, Raftopoulos and Robertson

• INTERVIEW Part 1: Jonathan Moyo, Brian Raftopoulos and John Robertson

• Coltart 'would rather lose seat than compromise principles'

• David Coltart statement on political future

• Analysts back Annan's Zimbabwe plan

• Paul Themba Nyathi: MDC, Zanu PF cross-pollination of cultures

• MDC factions face off in Chitungwiza, Kadoma

• Human rights violators must be held to account

• Coltart: Why I can't join Tsvangirai faction

• Mbeki wants stability, not change - Tsvangirai

• Tsvangirai urges UN intervention in Zim

• It is possible to defeat Zanu PF

• Mbeki confirms Annan intervention in Zim

• Zanu PF, MDC negotiate transition government

• Jonathan Moyo: Beyond Budiriro, the state of Zim politics

• INTERVIEW: Zim opposition will not succeed without values

• New Zimbabwe.com Says: Budiriro results disastrous for opposition

By Staff Reporter

CHIBWE Dzingirai Tsvangirai, the father of Zimbabwean opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has died.

The 78-year-old Tsvangirai died in rural Buhera on Sunday.

No public statements have been issued, either by Tsvangirai or his officials on the death.

On Tuesday, Arthur Mutambara, leader of a rival faction of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led the tributes.

Mutambara said he had learnt with "shock, sadness and sorrow" of the "sudden and untimely" death of Tsvangirai.

Said Mutambara in a statement: "On behalf of the MDC party and on my behalf, I wish to express my sincere condolences to the Tsvangirai family during this sad and sorrowful moment of bereavement.

"As we share this moment of grief and pain with the Tsvangirai family, the name Chibwe Tsvangirai shall always remain in our fond memories. We shall always remember him for having nurtured one of the gallant sons of Zimbabwe, Morgan who has contributed immensely to the fight for greater political freedom and democracy in Zimbabwe."

Chibwe Tsvangirai was recently the subject of a media battle between the state-run Herald newspaper and Tsvangirai's spokesman, William Bango, after the paper claimed in a report that he had been overheard saying his son "will never rule."

A furious Bango hit back at the Herald in a lengthy reply in which he said in part: "Where was Tsvangirai's father, Chibwe, quoted as having uttered the said disparaging statements, and by whom? Who was old Chibwe talking to?"

Bango used the same article to hit out at the Herald's political editor Caesar Zvayi, accusing him of having "politically contaminated emotions and contested ideas".

Chibwe Tsvangirai was buried Wednesday.
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
newsdesk@newzimbabwe.com