Tsvangirai should withdraw: Counsellors

Politics
Marriage counsellors say Morgan Tsvangirai should take a low profile and engage marriage experts to mend his battered family and leadership image

SOME marriage counsellors say former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai should take a low profile and engage marriage experts to mend his battered family and leadership image following reports that his marriage is on the rocks.

Counsellors said Tsvangirai, who is the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, is likely to repair his damaged public status if he withdraws from public life and engages experts.

His wife, Elizabeth Macheka, is said to have walked out of the marriage, claiming irreconcilable differences. The two got married last year following some conflicts with his traditionally-wedded wife, Locardia Karimatsenga Tembo.

Tsvangirai’s first wife, Susan, died in a car accident in 2009.

Reports say a woman in South Africa, who claims to be Tsvangirai’s former lover, is planning to publish a book about their alleged affair.

Bulawayo-based marriaged counsellor reverend Ray Motsi of the Baptist Church says time has come for Tsvangirai to think about taking a low profile to sort out personal challenges.

“A person in his position right now needs to take time to withdraw from public life and talk to marriage experts because people will no longer take him seriously,” Motsi said.

His views were echoed by Bishop Paul Verryn of the Johannesburg Methodist Church, who believes that Tsvangirai’s complicated social issues are now affecting many Zimbabweans, including his children.

“In such cases children normally suffer more than parents and as such there is need for Tsvangirai to engage experts on this issue. Right now, there is a lot that is going on,” he said.

However, Tsvangirai’s spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka said it was impossible for the MDC-T leader to take a low profile.

“There are many issues that need his attention in this country. So, it’s impossible for him take a low profile,” he said.

– VOA