The Right Honourable Morgan Tsvangirai MP |
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Prime Minister of Zimbabwe | |
In office 15 February 2009 – 11 September 2013 |
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President | Robert Mugabe |
Deputy |
Thokozani Khuphe Arthur Mutambara |
Preceded by | Robert Mugabe |
Succeeded by | Position abolished |
President of the Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai | |
Assumed office 31 March 2005 |
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Preceded by | Position established |
President of the Movement for Democratic Change | |
In office 30 September 1999 – 31 March 2005 |
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Preceded by | Gibson Sibanda |
Succeeded by | Position abolished |
Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions | |
In office 10 May 1987 – 30 September 1999 |
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Preceded by | Masotsha Ndhlovu |
Succeeded by | Wellington Chibebe |
Personal details | |
Born |
Morgan Richard Tsvangirai 10 March 1952 Gutu, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) |
Political party |
Zimbabwe African National Union (Before 1987) Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (1987–1999) Movement for Democratic Change (1999–2005) Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai (2005–present) |
Spouse(s) | Susan Mhundwa (1978–2009) Elizabeth Macheka (2011–present) |
Children | 7 |
Religion | Christianity |
Signature | |
Website |
Government website Party website |
Morgan Richard Tsvangirai (/ˈtʃæŋɡɪraɪ/, Shona: [ts͎aŋ.ɡi.ra.i]; born 10 March 1952) is a Zimbabwean politician who was Prime Minister of Zimbabwe from 2009 to 2013. He is President of the Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai (MDC-T) and a key figure in the opposition to President Robert Mugabe.
Tsvangirai was the MDC candidate in the controversial 2002 presidential election, losing to Mugabe. He later contested the first round of the 2008 presidential election as the MDC-T candidate, taking 47.8% of the vote according to official results, placing him ahead of Mugabe, who received 43.2%. Tsvangirai claimed to have won a majority and said that the results could have been altered in the month between the election and the reporting of official results. Tsvangirai initially planned to run in the second round against Mugabe, but withdrew shortly before it was held, arguing that the election would not be free and fair due to widespread violence and intimidation by government supporters that led to the deaths of 200 people.
He sustained non-life-threatening injuries in a car crash on 6 March 2009 when heading towards his rural home in Buhera. His first wife, Susan Tsvangirai, was killed in the head-on collision.
Morgan R. Tsvangirai was born in the Buhera area in then Southern Rhodesia, to Karanga parentage through his father Dzingirai-Chibwe Tsvangirai and mother Lydia Tsvangirai (née Lydia Zvaipa). He is the eldest of nine children, and the son of a communal farmer, mine worker, carpenter and bricklayer. He did his primary education at St. Marks Goneso Primary School Hwedza, and transferred by his father to Chikara Primary School Gutu then he went to Silveira. He did his secondary education at Gokomere High School. After leaving school with 8 Ordinary levels, in April 1972 he landed his first job as a trainee weaver for Elastics & Tapes textile factory in Mutare. In 1974 an old school mate from Silveira encouraged Morgan to apply for an advertised job as an apprentice for Anglo America's Bindura's Nickel Mine in Mashonaland Central. He spent ten years at the mine, rising from plant operator to plant supervisor. His current rural home is Buhera, which is 220 km south east of Harare.