Morgan Richard Tsvangirai’s Legacy

Morgan Richard
Tsvangirai is arguably the most polarising figure and advocate of
democracy and human rights in the history of opposition politics in
Zimbabwe. He is as much a topic of debate in Zimbabwe and beyond as the
late president Robert Gabriel Mugabe. Tsvangirai’s legacy, like
Mugabe’s, remains indisputably controversial and conflicted. Broadly,
the divided opinion on the Tsvangirai legacy can be represented,
firstly, by those who argue that Tsvangirai was the champion of
democracy and the face of the struggle for human rights in Zimbabwe. In
this light, Tsvangirai has been variously described as a
“selfless…people’s hero”, a “colossus of the struggle for democracy”,
“the commander of the struggle”, “a symbol of courage and resistance”,
and “the doyen of constitutionalism” in Zimbabwe. On the other hand,
critics have described Tsvangirai as a “sell-out”, “a Judas Iscariot”,
“traitor”, and “coward”, among other nefarious and pejorative
characterisations. Drawing on all these opinions and the various
characterisations of Tsvangirai, this book provides a comprehensive and
multi-disciplinary appraisal of a gigantic trade unionist and political
figure who, in his life and in death, inspires different narratives,
emotions and values. This book is therefore about a mortal but “living”
figure who left an indelible mark on Zimbabwe, Africa and the rest of
the world in fields such as trade unionism, governance and politics. As
such, the book is handy for students and practitioners in African
studies, political science, policy studies, economics, history, global
studies and development studies.