“Now, just as we expect a wave of support for our 2018 Chakachaya programme, he is suffering from an aggressive form of colon cancer,” Cross wrote on his blog in an article titled Life is not fair.

“He has been struggling with his treatment and the family is concerned that he might not handle the election and subsequently, the responsibility of being President of a country in a deep crisis.

“After a lifetime of principled struggle, to have it all threatened by a disease in your body. Life can be a bastard at times.”

Tsvangirai is currently battling cancer of the colon and was recently airlifted to neighbouring South Africa to receive treatment.

The MDC-T leader’s illness has not only thrown his party into disarray, but also opposition parties that had selected him as the face of a grand coalition against Mugabe in next year’s elections.

In an emotionally-charged article, Cross described the trials and tribulations of the MDC since its formation in 1999 and how Tsvangirai has been carrying the hopes of many Zimbabweans going into next year’s elections.

Cross also sympathised with embattled Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa for being “betrayed” by President Robert Mugabe, a person whom he served all his life.-Newsday