‘Womanising phase over’

via ‘Womanising phase over’ – DailyNews Live 7 July 2014 by Helen Kadirire

HARARE – MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai whose numerous affairs with women were extensively covered by the media says he has moved on from that sad chapter in his life.

The Daily News has exclusively Tsvangirai’s document, titled Personal Reflections, where among other cases, he addresses the issue of the women he was associated with following the death of his wife, Susan in 2009.

Now in a stable marriage with his wife Elizabeth, Tsvangirai admits in the document due for release today that the phase where he dated a number of women in a short space of time is over adding that he has to be accountable for what he does even in his private life.

He says his actions were those of a person who was on an emotional roller coaster after the untimely death of his wife.

“After my wife died in an accident back in 2009, life has not been easy going — that fateful day will not leave me, but despite sad experiences, life continues,” Tsvangirai said.

“As you all know, due to extensive publicity in the media with respect to my relationships with women, an attempt has been made to portray my perceived errors to be the sum total of who I am. It is possible after such a loss for one to be on an emotional roller coaster,” he added.

The 62-year-old said the affairs occurred during the time he was adjusting to life after losing a partner while at the same time trying to address a national crisis he had been burdened with.

Tsvangirai says he is continuously reflecting and trying to live up to the high expectations of public office.

The former prime minister said he was saddened by the preoccupation with his assumed weakness for women while diverting from real problems the nation is facing.

After Susan’s death, a string of women came forward claiming to have had intimate relationships with the former trade union boss.

One of them, 25-year-old Loreta Nyathi now claims Tsvangirai sired a child with her but is failing to pay maintenance for the child. But the former prime minister hit back saying Nyathi was being used by both Zanu PF and the MDC rebels to tarnish his image.

Among other women linked to Tsvangirai are Locardia Karimatsenga and South African Nosipo Shilubane.

Karimatsenga and Tsvangirai’s affair ended in an-out-of court settlement after the former withdrew her $15 000 maintenance claim from the Harare Magistrates’ Civil Court.