Morgan Tsvangirai

ZIMBABWE: MDC LEADER MORGAN TSVANGIRAI

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• published: 21 Jul 2015
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English/Nat XFA Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's ZANU P-F party is facing its first real electoral threat this weekend since it led Zimbabwe to independence in 1980. National elections to be held this weekend are expected to see strong gains for the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). The M-D-C, led by the charismatic Morgan Tsvangirai, was only formed last September, but the party looks set to capitalise on the waning popularity of the ruling nationalists. After months of civil unrest and with Zimbabwe's national elections looming, the figure of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is attracting international attention. Tsvangirai is the single biggest threat to President Robert Mugabe and the ruling ZANU P-F party. The former trade unionist formed the M-D-C just last September by bringing together a coalition of groups opposed to President Mugabe. Mugabe has had a vice-like grip on Zimbabwean politics since his nationalist party led the country to independence 20 years ago. But recently, a sluggish economy and a radical agenda to redistribute land and resources away from the country's white minority, have forced many people to contemplate voting for a change in Zimbabwe's leadership. Tsvangirai's M-D-C is the only opposition party in Zimbabwe contesting all 120 parliamentary seats in the June 24 and 25 elections. But many observers and human rights workers say constant violence and threats have made a fair election almost impossible. Reports in recent days say ruling party militants have begun seizing identity cards and voting papers from suspected opposition supporters, making it impossible for them to vote. Violence has forced many other voters to flee their districts, leaving behind the area in which they will be required to cast their ballot. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I'm really upbeat about it. The only thing is that we don't know to what extent intimidation has affected people and affected people to the extent that they are not able to go and vote. But I'm sure the overwhelming feeling within the people is that they have to go and vote." SUPER CAPTION: Morgan Tsvangirai, Movement for Democratic Change leader It takes bravery to openly declare support for the M-D-C. Opposition candidates and supporters have become the targets of intimidation and threats of violence. Opposition candidates have also been denied access to the airwaves. In recent months, more than 30 people have been killed in political violence. Most victims were opposition supporters. More than 2-thousand others have been injured. In recent months, Tsvangirai has attended the funerals of several murdered party colleagues. In April, Tsvangirai's own driver was killed by people believed to be ZANU P-F hard-liners. Despite the threats, the M-D-C party's popularity remains strong. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I think the people of this country want change because Mugabe has betrayed the very revolution he was leading. It is his government that amassed wealth to a small ruling elite, that has destroyed the economy and the future of this country, that has created conditions for mass unemployment and destruction for the only economic infrastructure that was there. He is the one that created insecurity and lack of confidence in this economy, so who has betrayed the interest of Zimbabweans other than him?" SUPER CAPTION: Morgan Tsvangirai, Movement for Democratic Change leader At M-D-C rallies around the country, crowds gather to hear the charismatic M-D-C leader. These rallies have attracted huge numbers of supporters, both black and white. White farmers are a traditional support base for the M-D-C. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/9e12c0d2aaaa5c34a4979cb5f3bb08b9 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork