Morgan Tsvangirai, R.I.P.

Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change and that country's Prime Minister from 2009 to 2013, died on Valentine's Day following a battle with colon cancer. He was 65.

A nickel miner by trade who became a union leader, no man posed a greater threat to the rule of Robert Mugabe than Tsvangirai who endured numerous beatings and imprisonment. It is a wonder he lived as long as he did.

Tsvangirai actually bested Mugabe in the first round of Zimbabwe's presidential elections a decade ago. But government violence against his supporters forced Tsvangirai to withdraw from the second round of voting. The following year then South African President Thabo Mbeki brokered a power sharing agreement between Mugabe and Tsvangirai in which the latter became Prime Minister, a position he held for four years. But Tsvangirai yielded little power or influence and was accused by some of his supporters of selling out. There was little enthusiasm when Tsvangirai ran against Mugabe in 2013.

At least Tsvangirai lived long enough to see Mugabe step down from power last November. But ZANU-PF remains firmly in the saddle with Emmerson Mnangagwa in charge. The democratic change Tsvangirai fought for will have to be taken up and attained by others Zimbabweans. R.I.P.