ZIMBABWE opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has expressed sadness at the passing of Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, whom he described as a "good friend" and the government has described the death as "a tragedy".
"I have, with great sadness, learnt of the passing-on of a good friend and comrade," Tsvangirai said in a statement.
"As an individual and as a party, we have always hoped and prayed for his speedy recovery... Sadly, he has left us at this most trying time," said Tsvangirai, who added that he would travel to Zambia to express his condolences.
Mwanawasa was among the first African leaders to openly critise Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, after the lengthy delay in announcing the results of Zimbabwe's March 29 vote.
Mwanawasa told a Southern African Development Community (Sadc) summit in April that "Sadc cannot stand by and do nothing when one of its members is experiencing political and economic pain."
Tsvangirai described Mwanawasa as a champion of the democratisation of the region and the African continent in general.
"His passing-on is a sad day to the Zimbabwe people who at this stage are yearning for a new beginning which can unquestionably be characterised as democratic and a reflection of the will of the people," the statement said.
The government also issued a statement soon after the news of Mwanawasa’s death calling it 'a tragedy.'
'It's a real tragedy for the entire continent,' Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu told Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa)
President Mugabe will issue a statement later Tuesday after a weekly cabinet meeting, reported Ndlovu.
Mwanawasa, 59, was one of the few African leaders who dared openly criticize President Mugabe referring to Zimbabwe as a 'sinking Titanic' in reference to the deteriorating economic situation in the country.
n/a • n/a Subject: n/a Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:29:47 • Now if anything is UnAfrican this is it. Wishing and speaking ill of the dead means we as humans especially Africans have reached the point of no return. We have always put differences aside and offered moral support in times of death. In the name of politics you are able to utter such rubbish. We all shall truly burn in hell. MHDSRIP. Aluta Continua!!!
N/a • n/a Subject: n/a Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:43:52 • For me the death of Mwanawafa is good riddance to bad rubbish. May his departed filthy soul continuously fry in hell for having accepted filthy lucre from the evil whitemen! God works in many ways and for us Zimbos the death of this puppet and sellout is Gods own way of saying zvichanaka chete!
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