MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, currently unwell with an undisclosed illness, missed his party’s Bulawayo demonstration march on Saturday.
Sources revealed Mr. Tsvangirai is still recovering in neighbouring South Africa.
MDC-T Bulawayo deputy spokesperson, Felix Magalela Sibanda, said Tsvangirai’s deputy Thokozani Khupe was standing in for her boss who was recently flown to South Africa for emergency treatment.
“He isn’t feeling well though recovering very well so we can’t abuse him, he has to fully recover. Our president works with a team, our vice president (Khupe) will be leading from the front accompanied by members of the national standing committee,” said Sibanda.
Earlier on sources within the party had claimed efforts were being made to fly Tsvangirai into Bulawayo Saturday morning. “Tsvangirai is the face of the party and his presence would have a serious impact. Plans are underway for him to fly into the country tomorrow (today) though he won’t be able to march with the party members,” the source was quoted by the Daily News saying.
“If it happens that Tsvangirai comes, he will play a minimal role in the whole thing because he has not fully recovered.”
However at the end of day, Tsvangirai failed to turn up. No further explanation to the effect was available at the time of writing.