Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

Zimbabwe opposition leader flies out for medical care

-

Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has flown to South Africa for medical care, a party official told AFP Saturday, as concerns grow over his health ahead of next year's election.

Tsvangirai, a former prime minister and veteran opponent of President Robert Mugabe, announced last year that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer and had begun chemotherapy.

Tsvangirai hopes to lead a united opposition into 2018's general elections as Mugabe seeks to extend his 37-year-long stranglehold on power.

"President Tsvangirai went to South Africa for medical reasons," a Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party official told AFP. "He is recovering."

Tsvangirai, 65, was also flown to South Africa in September for medical treatment before being discharged and returning to Harare in early October.

He won the most votes in the first-round of the 2008 presidential elections, but poll officials said it was not enough to avoid a run-off against Mugabe.

As ZANU-PF ruling party loyalists unleashed a wave of violence, Tsvangirai pulled out of the race and became prime minister in a power-sharing government in which he was widely seen as being outmanoeuvered by Mugabe.

Mugabe, 93, regularly flies to Singapore, reportedly for health reasons. Details of his medical condition are kept under wraps, but he recently said doctors had given him a clean bill of health.

The World Health Organization briefly appointed Mugabe as a goodwill ambassador in before rescinding the offer last week following widespread outrage.

Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has flown to South Africa for medical care, a party official told AFP Saturday, as concerns grow over his health ahead of next year’s election.

Tsvangirai, a former prime minister and veteran opponent of President Robert Mugabe, announced last year that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer and had begun chemotherapy.

Tsvangirai hopes to lead a united opposition into 2018’s general elections as Mugabe seeks to extend his 37-year-long stranglehold on power.

“President Tsvangirai went to South Africa for medical reasons,” a Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party official told AFP. “He is recovering.”

Tsvangirai, 65, was also flown to South Africa in September for medical treatment before being discharged and returning to Harare in early October.

He won the most votes in the first-round of the 2008 presidential elections, but poll officials said it was not enough to avoid a run-off against Mugabe.

As ZANU-PF ruling party loyalists unleashed a wave of violence, Tsvangirai pulled out of the race and became prime minister in a power-sharing government in which he was widely seen as being outmanoeuvered by Mugabe.

Mugabe, 93, regularly flies to Singapore, reportedly for health reasons. Details of his medical condition are kept under wraps, but he recently said doctors had given him a clean bill of health.

The World Health Organization briefly appointed Mugabe as a goodwill ambassador in before rescinding the offer last week following widespread outrage.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

You may also like:

World

Tycoon Morris Chang received one of Taiwan's highest medals of honour to recognise his achievements as the founder of semiconductor giant TSMC - Copyright...

World

An Iranian military truck carries a Sayad 4-B missile past a portrait of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a military parade on April...

World

Iranians lift up a flag and the mock up of a missile during a celebration following Iran's missiles and drones attack on Israel, on...

Business

Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg contends freshly released Meta AI is the most intelligent digital assistant people can freely use - Copyright AFP...