Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has hinted that he will retire as head of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
In a new year statement , he says he is “looking at the imminent prospects of us as the older generation leaving the levers of leadership to allow the younger generation to take forward this huge task”.
It’s not quite a resignation statement, but it is the strongest indication yet that he could step down.
The BBC reports that Mr Tsvangirai, who has been dogged by colon cancer, founded the MDC 18 years ago and it is seen as the strongest challenger to the ruling Zanu-PF party’s 38-year rule.
The 65-year-old also refers to his ongoing illness in the statement, and calls for “new hands… to take this struggle and this country forward”.
But he sets no timelines.
Zimbabwe is expected to hold elections by August, and Mr Tsvangirai has already been named as the leader of a broad coalition. Many believe without him that arrangement would crumble.
This is what will equally happen to HH just mark my words. For him it will happen in 2021 shortly after losing the elections. God anoints who should rule, you cant force your way to the state house when God has not decreed you to be a leader no matter how wealthy you are, whatever you do. All the best Tsvangirai in your future endeavors outside politics
I wish we could see this in Zambia. We can all be presidents but not everyone has that chance