Never to be President: Morgan Tsvangirai dies months before Zimbabwe elections

Morgan Tsvangirai, the veteran Zimbabwean opposition leader who fought Robert Mugabe's regime for many years, died on Wednesday after battling against cancer, a party official said.

Tsvangirai, who founded the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in 1999, was among the most prominent critics of Mugabe, the long-time authoritarian leader who was ousted from power in November.

It should be noted that President Emerson Mnangagwa in January announced that the country would hold elections in 4-5 months to officially replace Mugabe.

"It is sad for me to announce that we have lost our icon and fighter for democracy," Elias Mudzuri, one of the vice-presidents of the MDC, said on Twitter.

As you are aware that our MDC T President, Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai has not been feeling well for some time, it is sad for me to announce that we have lost our icon and fighter for democracy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, the party and the nation at this hour.

— Elias Mudzuri (@EngMudzuri) February 14, 2018

Zimbabwe opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has died. Party VP Elias Mudzuri confirmed the news and tweeted "it is sad for me to announce that we have lost our icon and fighter for democracy.Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, the party and the nation at this hour" pic.twitter.com/PLKi8t6s0T

— This Is Africa (@ThisIsAfricaTIA) February 14, 2018

Mugabe's government detained him on numerous occasions over his vocal criticism of the regime.

Security forces swooped on Tsvangirai in 1989 after he bluntly warned about the rising tide of political repression in the country.

Tsvangirai also claimed to have been the target of four assassination attempts - including one in 1997 in which he said attackers attempted to throw him out of his office window.