Tsvangirai breathed his last in South Africa on Wednesday. He was suffering from colon cancer.

Announcing his death, Elias Mudzuri, the vice-president of the MDC, the party Tsvangirai represented, tweeted, " 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."

"Tonight I paid my condolences to the late president's family at his Highlands home. The Tsvangirai family together with us, is finding it difficult to come to terms with the passing on of our iconic democratic leader. May His Soul Rest in Peace," an ensuing tweet added.

Tsvangirai's political stint was marked by his long struggle against former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who ruled the nation for nearly four decades, before being asked to step down.
 

Image: Screengrab from YouTube