Supporters hold photos of the late Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai during a public funeral ceremony in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Feb. 19, 2018. The public funeral ceremony was held Monday for Morgan Tsvangirai who died in South Africa last week after a long battle with cancer. (Xinhua/Shaun Jusa)
HARARE, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- A public funeral ceremony was held Monday for the late Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai who died in South Africa last week after a long battle with cancer.
The former prime minister will be buried Tuesday at his rural home in Buhera, 300 km southeast of the capital Harare.
Scores of mourners thronged an open space on the outskirts of the capital to pay their last respect to the late Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) leader who was the face of opposition politics in Zimbabwe.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa led the nation in mourning Tsvangirai and his government accorded the departed opposition leader a state-assisted funeral in recognition of his role in the fight for peace and democracy.
On Sunday, Mnangagwa visited Tsvangirai's residence in the capital to pay his condolences and assured the family that the government would pay Tsvangirai's medical bills.
At the ceremony, speakers who included opposition leaders from other African nations hailed Tsvangirai for his tireless efforts in fighting for democracy in Zimbabwe.
Namibia's opposition leader McHenry Venaani described Tsvangirai as a strong fighter for democracy, saying it was through his efforts that opposition figures like him could now easily come into Zimbabwe.
Acting MDC-T president Nelson Chamisa said the party will work hard to win in the upcoming vote as a way to honor Tsvangirai.
"We will not disappoint Morgan Tsvangirai," said Chamisa who is in a battle with two other party deputy presidents over Tsvangirai succession.
Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga also arrived in Harare on Monday to attend the burial of Tsvangirai.
