Susan Tsvangirai was a mother of our struggle – MDC
March 7th, 2009
Via MDC Press Release — The late Susan Nyaradzo Tsvangirai was a mother not only to the Tsvangirai family, but also to the party and the nation.
Addressing a press conference soon after a national executive meeting in Harare today, MDC Secretary-General and Minister of Finance Hon Tendai Biti said the late Mrs Tsvangirai was a pillar of strength to the Prime Minister and to the broad membership of the MDC.
“She was a pillar of strength. The decisions the party took sometimes had the refining wisdom that came from Mrs Tsvangirai,” said Hon Biti.
Mrs Tsvangirai died in a horrific car accident in Beatrice in which the Prime Minister and MDC President escaped with injuries. He is in a stable condition and is recovering at Avenues Clinic in Harare.
“She was always there for the President and for the party. The accident took place within a context of joy and celebration. The MDC President celebrates his 57th birthday on Tuesday,” said Hon Biti.
“She was a people’s hero. She was a mother to us and to our struggle.”
The MDC Secretary-general, who broke down several times during the press conference, said the accident could have been avoided if police escort had been provided.
“Logic would have demanded that police escort be provided to the Prime Minister to warn other traffic and this tragedy could have been avoided.”
Hon Biti said police investigations were underway but stressed that the party would carry out an independent investigation into the cause of the accident. The party will be making further announcements on this matter in due course, he said.
Mrs Tsvangirai has stood side by side with the MDC Presiden since their marriage in 1976. Burial arrangements will be announced in due course.
Hon Biti said the Prime Minister was in a stable condition. He said the late Mrs Tsvangirai had stood side by side with her husband throughout his various ordeals, including the treason charges and the brutal assault of 11 March 2007.
The MDC is working with the Tsvangirai family to give Mrs Tsvangirai a befitting send-off. Burial arrangements will be announced in due course as some of her children are outside the country.
MDC Information and Publicity Department
March 7th, 2009 14:03
There are so many conflicting reports about the tragedy.
I was shocked watching the video on BBC… how can they show this to the world…I was crying.
March 7th, 2009 16:24
The video of the ‘visit’ to Morgan is shocking, totally shocking. They put him under severe stress just to get a PR video to send to the world.
Mugabe holds himself coldly in a position of power and control (a position he wishes to reclaim having lost it of late – a good pose for world PR), he looks down at Morgan’s severely swollen and battered face without emotion. Morgan covers his eyes to avoid contact. Then it’s disGrace’s turn, she leans forward and gives a couple of forced sobs. Morgan can’t bear it. He coughs, covers his eyes, looks away then brushes her hand away, removes his hand and draws his arm across his chest away from the visitors. Then Mujuru comes forward. Morgan, always polite, gives his hands. She bends and sobs. Mugabe turns and moves away. Mujuru speaks, clutching Morgan’s hands. He says something, starts to withdraw his hands, and wipes one hand on the sheet. Mujuru looks taken aback, her face falls and she moves away. Cut… to smirking Mnangagwa followed by cheery CIO. At this stage Morgan can’t stand the stress, the hypocrisy. He sits up with difficulty. Two more shake his hand. Cut.
The accident happened around 5 pm. This ‘party’ was at the Avenues Clinic ‘shortly before’ 8 pm. Apparently Gono was also there. This is Friday night. How did they get together so quickly? They are not known for attending even their own Zanu-pf members bedsides. they usually wait to make speeches at funerals (Dear God, please spare us that!). disGrace would not even shake Morgan’s hand when he was sworn in as Prime Minister but she had to be there for the PR. They were primed and waiting.
Only ZBC and the Herald journalists were allowed in. We are not shown any of the MDC members comforting Morgan and there is not even one archive image of Susan, the reason for their display of ‘compassion’. If this is not PR, I’m president of the USA!
It was a savage, inhumane ‘visit’ placing greater stress on an already traumatised Morgan. I am so angry.
March 7th, 2009 17:16
THE POWER OF THE TOUGUE
DO YOU REMEBER THE VIDEO AND SOUND RECORDING WHICH CIRCULATED AMONGST US ZIMBOS, IN WHICH MUGAGE GAVE A FOREWARNING THAT TSVANGAIRI WOULD BE ONLY A PRESIDENT IN HIS DREAMS, THAT HE MUST NOT KID HIMSELF AFTER BEING MERMISED BY THE PERFUME OF HIS WIFE….HE THEN MADE THREATS THAT IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN… HIS EVIL PROPHESY HAS 1/2 COME TRUE AS SUSAN WILL NEVER BE FIRST LADY, BUT GOD HAS FOUGHT FOR TSVANGAIRI LIFE….. AND GOD WILL FIGHT AGAIN FOR JUSTICE…