Save Zimbabwe of the Movement for Democratic Change, Morgan Tsvangirai. Zimbabwe police claimed that the prayer rally violated a government ban on political protests. In the resulting unrest one opposition activist, Gift Tandare, was shot dead by police. Save Zimbabwe Save Zimbabwe is a broad coalition of organizations spearheaded by the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (CA). Members include the Movement for Democratic Change and other opposition parties, church groups, civil rights groups and trade unions. The campaign's stated aims are for the restoration of democracy, human rights and legitimate government to Zimbabwe through providing early, free and fair elections under proper international supervision.
Thabo Mbeki election in Zimbabwe prompted debate within the Commonwealth and led to a difficult decision to suspend Zimbabwe from the organisation. Mbeki supported Mugabe during this period. It is thought that Mbeki viewed Mugabe as "a victim of imperialist meddling and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) as a Western stooge." The full meeting of the Commonwealth had failed in a consensus to decide on the issue, and they tasked the previous, present (at the time), and future leaders of Commonwealth (respectively President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, John Howard of Australia, and Mbeki of South Africa) to come to a