MORGAN RICHARD TSVANGIRAI: THE LEGACY (A speech delivered the MDC President Senator Douglas Togarasei Mwonzora on the commemoration of Morgan Richard Tsvangirai Day, Humanikwa Village, Buhera, on the 15th February, 2025) CHIEF MAKUMBE AND ALL THE TRADITIONALLEADERS OF BUHERA, THE LOCAL KRAALHEAD MEMBERS OF THE IMMEDIATE TSVANGIRAI FAMILY LED BY BROTHER COLLINS TSVANGIRAI AMBUYA LYDIA TSVANGIRAI, MOTHER TO OUR LATE ICON VICE PRESIDENT OF MDC HON PAURINA MPARIWA NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF MDC, MR SOLOMON ‘SOX’ CHIKOHWERO VICE NATIONAL CHAIR PERSON HON YVONNE MUSARURWA SECRETARY GENERAL HON DR TAPIWA MASHAKADA ALL LEADERS AND MEBERS OF THE MDC HERE PRESENT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, COMRADES AND FRIENDS Today, here at Humanikwa Village in Buhera, we gather to commemorate and celebrate the life of one of the most illustrious, enigmatic and iconic figures in the history of our nation Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, veteran trade unionist, President of MDC and Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe. We also at this gathering honor respect and pledge to carry on with the rich legacy that he left to both party and country. Morgan Richard Tsvangirai breathed his last and was promoted to glory on the 14th of February, 2018 in the Republic of South Africa. It is in his honor that the party has decided to make the commemoration of Morgan Richard Tsvangirai Day every year. The other days that we would be commemorating are the Day of the Victim on the 27th of June, when we remember all the victims of political violence, the 11th of September when we celebrate the Anniversary of the formation of our great movement. Lastly every year in the first week of December, we will hold the Annual Policy Conference of the party. Ladies and gentlemen, there was a nationalist struggle for Independence that ended in 1980 with the attainment of our independence. However, after independence people began to realize that the new black ruler is as oppressive as the one he replaced and uses exactly the same instruments of oppression. This ushers in the Democratic Struggle whose objective is the dismantling of the oppressive state machinery irrespective of the color of race of the men and women presiding over it. Tsvangirai took part in the nationalistic struggle. However he distinguished himself as the undisputed leader of the democratic struggle. As soon as he got employed in the mines, Tsvangirai got involved in the struggles of the working people at shop floor level. He then rose through the ranks until he was elected as the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. There he fought for the rights of all working people. When the government introduced ESAP the conditions of the working people deteriorated. There was so much injustice at the workplace. The massive retrenchments that took place during ESAP created e reserve army of labor. This in turn led to the weakening of the bargaining power of the workers. It was clear to Tsvangirai and his colleagues that the government had decidedly become anti-worker. It was during his time as Secretary General of the ZCTU that Tsvangirai interacted with such people as Frederick Chiluba of Zambia, Jan Sithole of Swaziland, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and Chakufwa Chihana of Malawi. Frustrated by bad governance and abuse of state power, Tsvangirai and his colleagues formed the National Constitutional Assembly whose objective was to usher a new, democratic and people-driven constitution of Zimbabwe. The NCA was to defeat the government in the historic referendum in 2000. Touched by the continued deterioration in the social, political and economic situation and reacting to the direct challenge of the government itself, Tsvangirai and his colleagues formed the MDC in 1999. The party instantly became a serious contender of state power. As leader of the MDC Tsvangirai instantly established himself as the doyen of the democratic struggle. In retaliation the state subjected him to serious harassment which included unjustified detention, persecution and unfair prosecution. The highlight of the state brutality was when on the 10th of March, 2007 when Tsvangirai was beaten by state goons during a prayer meeting in Highfields and left for dead. The government and especially the President then publicly celebrated the beating and humiliation of Morgan Tsvangirai. Exactly, a year after his public humiliation at the hands of the state goons, Tsvangirai won the Presidential elections of the 31st of March, 2008. The Party also won the majority in parliament and ran virtually every local authority in the country. However, in the aftermath of the election, the state embarked on the orgy of violence which resulted in the deaths of 300 o four finest youngsters in the Presidential Run-Off elections. Disgusted by the wanton disregard of human life and electoral rules, Tsvangirai strategically withdrew of the presidential run-off election. While any other person would have felt bitter at the clear election manipulation, theft, violence and subterfuge, Tsvangirai listened to the wise counsel of the other African leaders and agreed to participate in the talks that led to the conclusion of the Global Political Agreement which in turn led to the establishment of the Government of National Unity. Tsvangirai made it clear that he was entering the government of National Unity for three main reasons. These were to stop the senseless bloodletting that had led to the deaths of so many people, improving the economic well-being of all Zimbabweans and drafting of the new constitution of Zimbabwe. Indeed these objectives were met; bloodletting stopped, people’s lives improved and a new constitution came into being. During his time as Prime Minister, Tsvangirai did not seek revenge against those who had needlessly persecuted, prosecuted and publicly humiliated him. From his work as Prime Minister Tsvangirai respected the sovereignty of the people and the virtues of service and sacrifice, forgiveness and abnegation. He was always guided by what was in the best interests of the people. He abhorred violence and cherished democracy. At the time he left office as Prime Minister, Tsvangirai left for Zimbabwe sustainable peace, a good economy and a good constitution. At the time of his demise he left us a great party which was potent, pro-people and pro-poor. The party was subjected to serious turbulence after his death. Fortunately it has survived this serious turbulence and is now on the rebound. It has continued the fight for free, fair and credible elections as exemplified by its lone but principled fight against the unfair delimitation. The Party has been a lone voice against wanton destruction of people’s homes under what clearly is Second Murambasvina. It has led the fight for the defense of the People’s Constitution as exemplified by its pioneering fight against the Third Term and the desecration of our constitution. The party continues to advocate for free education, free maternity, free health care, meaningful pensions for the elderly including war veterans. We are happy that in line with Morgan’s Big Tent philosophy, the party continues to welcome its prodigal sons and daughters. It continues to call for the unity of purpose of all progressive forces in achieving whatever is the best interest of the Zimbabwean people. Tsvangirai legacy lives on. Victory is certain. Aluta continua