Citizen of Zimbabwe: Conversations with Morgan TsvangiraiMorgan Tsvangiraiís appointment as Zimbabweís Prime Minister in 2009 followed many yearsí leadership of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trades Unions and the Movement for Democratic Change. How has that experience equipped him for high national office? Does he have the personal, intellectual and political qualities required to be President? In July 2004, as he was awaiting the verdict in his treason trial, Tsvangirai spent several days in conversation with Stephen Chan. Chan was concerned to find out if Tsvangirai was more than ëmerely a charismatic leader of the oppositioní; if he had ëhis own intellectual agenda [and] political philosophyí. His questions were even-handed and astute. ëDiscussion by discussion, Morgan Tsvangirai had become more open, more human ñ less cautious and, paradoxically, more obviously and naturally presidential.í Five years later, having reviewed the events since their discussions took place, Chan writes: ëI have not made a saint of him, not even an Atlas. I hope I have not criticized him too much or too unfairly. Probably no one could have done for Zimbabwe what he has.í Citizen of Zimbabwe is a rare and intimate portrait of political leadership in Africa. |
From inside the book
Page 5
... certainly dogged and persistent. But he might also have learnt under fire. Pressure-cooking can sometimes lead to unexpected results. So is Tsvangirai still merely a charismatic leader of the opposition? In trying to cast him down, what ...
... certainly dogged and persistent. But he might also have learnt under fire. Pressure-cooking can sometimes lead to unexpected results. So is Tsvangirai still merely a charismatic leader of the opposition? In trying to cast him down, what ...
Page 9
... certainly nothing stronger. The driver, one of the guards I met earlier, sees me musing and smiles. 'Better than nothing,' he says. He may not be armed, but the young man has sangfroid. Morgan Tsvangirai's mother has come to the city to ...
... certainly nothing stronger. The driver, one of the guards I met earlier, sees me musing and smiles. 'Better than nothing,' he says. He may not be armed, but the young man has sangfroid. Morgan Tsvangirai's mother has come to the city to ...
Page 12
... certainly, even now, a signal to the outside world of a certain pragmatism in eco- nomic affairs – though couched in a social democratic idealism – that illustrates the Tsvangirai position. It also further illustrates why certain ...
... certainly, even now, a signal to the outside world of a certain pragmatism in eco- nomic affairs – though couched in a social democratic idealism – that illustrates the Tsvangirai position. It also further illustrates why certain ...
Page 18
... certainly not going to allow a crowd of MDC supporters to march into State House, peacefully or not. Thereafter, every MDC show of force – demonstrations, boycotts and stayaways – was met by resolute and increasingly brutal police ...
... certainly not going to allow a crowd of MDC supporters to march into State House, peacefully or not. Thereafter, every MDC show of force – demonstrations, boycotts and stayaways – was met by resolute and increasingly brutal police ...
Page 28
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Contents
1 | |
8 | |
Inclusiveness Opposition | 21 |
The Battle for Ownership of the Mind | 31 |
Internationalism Reconciliation | 44 |
Perseverance | 52 |
Disease Conditionality | 62 |
Traditional Culture Modernity Democracy | 70 |
Healing the Future | 81 |
A Rueful Reflection | 89 |
The Twisting Turning Road Forwards | 96 |
Back Cover | 109 |
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