Morgan Tsvangirai

Morgan Tsvangirai is the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. He was sworn in on February 11, 2009 after a power-sharing agreement with President Robert Mugabe. Tsvangirai is the leader of the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change.CNN: Tsvangirai sworn in as Zimbabwe PM (February 11, 2009)

On April 5, 2009, Morgan Tsvangirai's four-year-old grandson Shaun drowned in his swimming pool while he was away at a bonding session for ministers in the unity government. Shaun, who is the son of Tsvangirai's second son Garikai, has been in Harare with his father for the last month. They were in town because of the death of Tsvangirai's wife Susan on March 6, 2009. Her death was the result of a car crash. AP: Grandson of Zimbabwe prime minister drowns (April 5, 2009)

Tsvangirai has been a vocal critic of the Robert Mugabe government and has been arrested many times. His most recent arrests were on March 11, 2007, during which he was severely beaten, and on January 21, 2008, for organizing anti-Mugabe demonstrations.Telegraph: Morgan Tsvangirai arrested in Zimbabwe (January 24, 2008)

He has also been arrested and tried on allegations of treason, plotting the assassination of Robert Mugabe and making threats against Mugabe. All of these charges were eventually dismissed.BBC News: Profile: Morgan Tsvangirai (October 15, 2004)

Early and inconclusive vote counts estimated Tsvangirai had won 60% of the vote in the 2008 Presidential Election. However, as time went on, more modest estimates emerged and the possibility of a run-off election increased.Reuters: Mugabe's party loses control of parliament (April 2, 2008)

When the final count was released, Tsvangirai had won 47.9 percent of the vote, short of the 50 percent required to win an election outright.BBC News: Zimbabwe announces poll results (May 2, 2008)

A runoff election was scheduled for June 27, 2008, however, on June 22, Tsvangirai dropped out of the runoff election, citing threats from Robert Mugabe and fears of widespread violence if he went through with the runoff.The New York Times: Zimbabwe Opposition Leader Pulls Out of Runoff (June 23, 2008) Tsvangirai fled Zimbabwe, citing police attacks against his supporters. Mugabe went through with the runoff election and declared himself the winner.CNN: Tsvangirai sworn in as Zimbabwe PM (February 11, 2009)

Mugabe and Tsvangirai later reached a power-sharing agreement where Mugabe would remain president and Tsvangirai would be Prime Minister. Tsvangirai was sworn in on February 11, 2009.CNN: Tsvangirai sworn in as Zimbabwe PM (February 11, 2009)