Zimbabwe: Thousands gather for Tsvangirai tribute

By John Cassim

Harare, Zimbabwe (AA) – A farewell rally was held Monday in Harare for the late Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai who died last week of colon cancer in South Africa.

Thousands of Zimbabweans, some from the country's main opposition Movement for Democratic Change, clad in red, thronged Freedom Square in the capital to bid farewell to the late Morgan Tsvangirai.

When the body of the late opposition was brought in a hearse, supporters broke into hymns and some wept.

Tsvangirai’s friends from Zambia and Namibia attended the memorial service.

“I bring you not condolences but to come and celebrate the life of Morgan, a good friend and a brother to me, Morgan was beaten and mistreated by this government,” Tsvangirai’s best friend Fackson Shamenda from the Zambia Trade Union said.

“Today we celebrate the man who made it possible for Africa to realize there was need for electoral reforms,” leader of the Namibian opposition Popular Democratic Movement, McHenry Venaani said.

Morgan Tsvangirai died last Wednesday in South Africa.

Tsvangirai is to be buried on Tuesday at his rural home in Buhera, 219 kilometers from the capital.