Zimbabwe's president has clear road to election, few rivals

As the body of Zimbabwe's main opposition leader awaits repatriation home for burial, his party already faces nasty power struggles to replace a man praised by both allies and rivals for his tenacious fight for democracy.

Supporters of Morgan Tsvangirai can hardly hold back their tears outside the party headquarters in Harare, Thursday, Feb, 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

That fractured opposition gives President Emmerson Mnangagwa a virtually clear road to winning the first post-Robert Mugabe election in the months ahead.

After the death of Morgan Tsvangirai on Wednesday in neighboring South Africa after a battle with cancer, three deputies in his Movement for Democratic Change party are vying to succeed him. Tsvangirai had been the MDC-T's only leader since its formation in 1999.

Supporters of Morgan Tsvangirai can hardly hold back their tears outside the party headquarters in Harare, Thursday, Feb, 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

A day after his death, thousands of mourning supporters gathered outside party headquarters while its leaders met to choose deputy party president Nelson Chamisa, a charismatic 40-year-old, as Tsvangirai's replacement "for the next 12 months."

But complications emerged immediately as the other deputy presidents, Elias Mudzuri and Thokozani Khupe, as well as several other senior officials boycotted the meeting. After violence from party youth, they abandoned plans for their own parallel meeting at Tsvangirai's home.

Newly elected Leader of the opposition Movement For Democtractic Change (MDC) party, Nelson Chamisa greets the crowd outside the party headquarters in Harare, Thursday, Feb, 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

Some party members are disputing Chamisa's appointment, saying Mudzuri, who was acting leader for a while as Tsvangirai underwent treatment, or Khupe is the MDC-T's acting leader or rightful heir.

Newly elected Leader of the opposition Movement For Democtractic Change (MDC) party, Nelson Chamisa makes his way through an opening to address the crowd at the party headquarters in Harare, Thursday, Feb, 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

The opposition party once posed the sternest challenge to former leader Mugabe and his ruling ZANU-PF party since the southern African nation's independence from white minority rule in 1980.

But with Tsvangirai gone, his party seems headed for an uncertain future at a time when a chance to seize power after Mugabe's departure approaches. Mugabe, who led Zimbabwe for 37 years, made a dramatic resignation in November after the military moved in and inspired the ruling party to turn against him.

Newly elected Leader of the opposition Movement For Democtractic Change (MDC) party, Nelson Chamisa greets the crowd outside the party headquarters in Harare, Thursday, Feb, 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

Now Mnangagwa, Mugabe's longtime ally, is in charge and is reaching out to the international community after years of sanctions over alleged human rights abuses and rigged elections, hoping to bring in badly needed foreign investment to revive a collapsing economy.

The United States, Britain and others have made clear that holding credible elections in the coming months is key to those efforts. The constitution says elections should be between July 23 and Aug. 21, though Mnangagwa has hinted they could be held earlier, perhaps in May.

A day after Tsvangirai's death, Mnangagwa expressed condolences and said the upcoming elections must be free and fair "in tribute to him."

Even as some in Zimbabwe worry that Mnangagwa is merely a continuation of Mugabe's administration and express concern about the military's influence on government, the opposition struggles to come up with a united challenge.

"The time for power struggles is over," Chamisa told the thousands of MDC-T supporters Thursday in the capital, Harare. "Mudzuri and Khupe should unite behind our efforts to remove ZANU-PF."

Some in Zimbabwe said the opposition's public displays of discord are disrespectful of Tsvangirai, who was jailed, beaten and accused of treason in his years of resisting Mugabe's government and even became prime minister in an uncomfortable coalition government for a few years.

"One of the most glaring ironies of this moment is that those who fought him are showing him respect while those with fought with him are fighting each other and showing disrespect. Comrades, you are allowing power to get in the way of reason and dignity," tweeted Alex Magaisa, a law lecturer at Kent University in Britain and former adviser to Tsvangirai.

The upcoming election will be the first without Tsvangirai since 2002. An opposition alliance had endorsed him as its candidate, even as the ailing leader in January said he was "looking at the imminent prospects of us as the older generation leaving the levers of leadership to allow the younger generation to take forward this huge task."

In the end, the opposition leader made the same mistake that Mugabe did, political analyst Alexander Rusero said: Even as his health deteriorated Tsvangirai failed to "anoint" a successor.

PARIS (AP) — Freshly cooked bread, select cheeses and a broad veggie offer will be among the meals to be offered to athletes and visitors during the 2024 Paris Olympics — including, of course, gourmet dishes created by renowned French chefs.

About 40,000 meals are expected to be served each day during the Games to the more than 15,000 athletes from 200 different countries housed at the Olympic village.

Visitors, too, will be able to enjoy some specially created snacks at the different venues.

French food services company Sodexo Live!, which was selected to oversee the catering at the athletes’ village and 14 venues of the Paris Games, said it has created a total of 500 recipes, which will notably be offered at a sit-down eatery for up to 3,500 athletes at the village, meant to be the “world's largest restaurant."

“Of course, there will be some classics for athletes, like pasta," said Nathalie Bellon-Szabo, global CEO of Sodexo Live! But the food will have a "very French touch.”

Athletes will also have access to “grab and go” food stands, including one dedicated exclusively to French cuisine cooked up by chefs.

Renowned French chef Amandine Chaignot, who runs a restaurant and a café-bistro in Paris, on Tuesday unveiled one of her recipes based on the iconic croissant.

“I wanted the recipe I suggested to be representative of the French terroir, but I wanted athletes to enjoy it at the same time,” she told the Associated Press. “It was quite obvious for me to make a croissant that I could twist. So, you have a bit of artichoke puree, a poached egg, a bit of truffle and a bit of cheese. It’s both vegetarian and still mouthwatering.”

Every day, during the July 26-Aug. 11 Games, a top chef — including some awarded with Michelin stars — will cook in front of the athletes at the Olympic Village, “so they’ll be able to chat and better understand what French cuisine is about — and to understand a bit of our culture as well,” Chaignot said.

Daily specials will be accompanied by a wide range of salads, pastas, grilled meat and soups. Cheeses will include top quality camembert, brie and sheep’s milk-based Ossau-Iraty from southwestern France.

The Olympic Village will also feature a boulangerie producing fresh baguettes and a variety of other breads.

“The idea is to offer athletes the chance to grab a piping hot baguette for breakfast," said baker Tony Doré, who will be working at the Olympic Village's main restaurant.

Athletes interested in other than sports, will even be able to participate in daily bakery trainings, and learn to make their own French baguette, said Doré.

In an effort to provide as many options as possible, meals offered will revolve around four cuisines: French, Asian, African and the Caribbean and international food.

Paris 2024 organizers have promised to make the Games more sustainable and environment-friendly — and that includes efforts to reduce the use of plastic. To this effect, the main restaurant at the village will use only reusable dishes.

Additionally, organizers say all meals will be based on seasonal products and 80% will come from France.

Plant-based food will represent 60% of the offer for visitors at the venues, including a “vegetarian hot-dog," said Philipp Würz, head of Food and Beverage for the Paris 2024 Committee.

There's “a huge amount of plant-based recipes that will be available for the general public to try, to experience and, hopefully, they will love it," said Würz.

The urban park at the Place de la Concorde, in central Paris, will offer visitors 100% vegetarian food — a first in the Games’ history. The place will be the stage for Paris 2024’s most contemporary sporting disciplines: BMX freestyle, 3x3 basketball, skateboarding and breakdancing.

AP journalist Nicholas Garriga contributed to this report.

AP Olympics coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Fish dishes, prepared by 3-star chef Alexandre Mazzia, are presented Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Paris. Some 40,000 meals will be served each day during the Games to over 15,000 athletes housed at the Olympic village. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Twisted croissants with artichoke puree, a poached egg, a bit of truffle, and a bit of cheese, created by French chef Amandine Chaignot, are seen Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Paris. Some 40,000 meals will be served each day during the Games to over 15,000 athletes housed at the Olympic village. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Chocolate breads made by French baker Tony Dore and that will be served during the. Olympic Games are seen Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Paris. Some 40,000 meals will be served each day during the Games to over 15,000 athletes housed at the Olympic village. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

French chef Amandine Chaignot, of the restaurant "Pouliche", who will prepare food for athletes during the Olympic Games, answers questions Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Paris. Some 40,000 meals will be served each day during the Games to over 15,000 athletes housed at the Olympic village. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

A bread salad made by chef Stephane Chicheri is presented Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Paris. Some 40,000 meals will be served each day during the Games to over 15,000 athletes housed at the Olympic village. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

French baker Tony Dore prepares baguettes, like those that will be served during the. Olympic Games, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Paris. Some 40,000 meals will be served each day during the Games to over 15,000 athletes housed at the Olympic village. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)