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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nZimbabwe\u2019s main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is critically ill in a South African hospital, reports say.<\/p>\n
Local media quoted family sources as saying the 65-year-old former prime minister \u2013 who is being treated for colon cancer \u2013 is suffering from weight loss, exhaustion and muscle thinning.<\/p>\n
During his political struggle against ex-President Robert Mugabe, he has been beaten and imprisoned numerous times.<\/p>\n
Mr Tsvangirai heads Zimbabwe\u2019s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party.<\/p>\n
What is known about Tsvangirai\u2019s condition?<\/h2>\n
He has been in and out of hospital since June, receiving treatment in a Johannesburg hospital for cancer. He returned to the hospital early last month.<\/p>\n
Mr Tsvangirai\u2019s health deteriorated rapidly on Monday, family sources told Zimbabwe\u2019s Bulawayo24 news website on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He had lost appetite and had difficulty eating or swallowing fluids, the sources said. Mr Tsvangirai also reportedly had breathing problems.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, an MDC party source was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying that Mr Tsvangirai \u201cis critically ill and we should brace for the worst\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Tsvangirai\u2019s spokesman, Luke Tamborinyoka, said the MDC leader was \u201cstable but the nation should keep on praying\u201d.<\/p>\n
The hospital where Mr Tsvangirai is being treated has so far made no public comments on the issue.<\/p>\n
How could this affect future elections?<\/h2>\n
Last November, Mr Tsvangirai hailed the resignation of Robert Mugabe, expressing hopes that Zimbabwe was on a \u201cnew trajectory\u201d that would include free and fair elections.<\/p>\n
He said that Mr Mugabe \u2013 who was forced to quit after ruling the country for 37 years \u2013 should be allowed to \u201cgo and rest for his last days\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Tsvangirai\u2019s illness has divided the MDC, with a number of party officials reportedly jockeying to succeed the former trade union activist.<\/p>\n
This has raised concerns about the party\u2019s political future, and its chances of taking on the ruling Zanu-PF party in presidential elections expected within six months.<\/p>\n
In November, Mr Mugabe was succeeded by the former vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa.<\/p>\n
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Source: BBC<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Homepage](\"https:\/\/ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Telesol-ad.jpg\")
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