A top official and strategist in Zimbabwe’s main opposition movement led by Morgan Tsvangirai has died, leaving a big gap in the party ahead of general elections next year, a party spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Isaac Matongo (60), a former trade unionist and chairperson of the main faction of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), died early on Wednesday, party spokesperson Nelson Chamisa told Reuters.
”He passed away early this morning; it was a sudden death, in his sleep,” Chamisa said, adding that Matongo had not reported any illness.
Matongo was one of the founder leaders of the MDC, which was formed in 1999 and has given President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF its stiffest challenge since independence in 1980. He was also one of Tsvangirai’s closest allies.
Mugabe’s government has in recent weeks intensified its crackdown on the opposition, arresting Tsvangirai and other civic leaders at a prayer rally in March.
Matongo, however, was not among those arrested and beaten up while in police custody.
Political analysts say that while Matongo kept a lower profile than some other MDC figures, he was an important strategist and helped the party rally grassroots support — both qualities the MDC will need heading into next year’s polls. — Reuters