Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, was on Friday awarded the prestigious International Lifetime Achievement Award 2009 of the Spanish Foundation Cristóbal Gabarrón.
The award honours people or organisations that “have been outstanding in reaching achievements that are an example to humanity”. The award, named after famous Spanish painter – Cristóbal Gabarrón, was announced last Friday and presentation is on October 9 in Valladolid, Spain.
A panel of judges for the Lifetime Achievement Award category unanimously settled for Tsvangirai “because he is a statesman for history to remember”.
“Because he launched a message to the world from Africa, a message of reconciliation and of the fight for democracy.
“Tsvangirai is an example of personal and political generosity, a beacon of hope for all of Africa. The whole world must lend its support to his striving for excellence and to the dignity of the people of Zimbabwe,” the panel said in its citation.
The MDC President beat 17 other nominees from Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Spain and the United States (US) who were also vying for the award. Tsvangirai has risen from working in a mine to becoming the face of resistance to President Robert Mugabe’s repressive rule.
Global political personalities who have received the award include former Colombian president Belisario Betancur (2003), French political philosopher Sami Naïr (2006) and the former Uruguayan leader Julio María Sanguinetti (2007).
Discover more from Nehanda Radio
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
