Categories: Stories

Tsvangirai’s mega rally overshadowed by Fidel Castro’s death

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s mega rally at the Zimbabwe grounds was completely overshadowed by former Cuban President Fidel Castro’s death.

Though his supporters braved the rain to listen to him, Tsvangirai had little new to say except what has now become a swan song, calling on President Robert Mugabe to step down to save the country from collapsing.

Even Mugabe’s supporters, including the war veterans that have propped Mugabe since 2000, have called on Mugabe to step down. And the case against those arrested for allegedly penning the document that revealed that the former liberators no longer trusted Mugabe seems to be crumbling.

Castro’s death on the other hand attracted Zimbabwean attention with one tweeting: "Castro dies and God is just ignoring Zimbabweans' prayers just like that. Everyone dying except that one guy."

Castro was 90, two years younger than Mugabe, but he ruled Cuba for 49 years before stepping down in 2008 to hand over to his brother Raul.

Mugabe has been in power for 36 years and even if he contests the 2018 elections and wins and serves his full term he won’t beat Castro’s record.

Tsvangirai was diagnosed with cancer in June, but though he is only 64, he seems to be in much worse health than Mugabe. But Mugabe, who also has cancer, has outlived previous predictions, so can Tsvangirai.

(317 VIEWS)

This post was last modified on November 26, 2016 5:36 pm

Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

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