Tsvangirai: Ready to take the reins?

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe (CNN) -- It's been two years since the Movement for Democratic Change was created, transforming Zimbabwe's political landscape.

The man behind that radical change, former union leader Morgan Tsvangirai, is now running for president.

Born in 1955 in what was then Southern Rhodesia, Tsvangirai grew up poor, working in the country's nickel mines, rising in the ranks of the powerful unions.

"The people see someone they can relate to, someone who has fought the economic battles for them, who has lived their kind of life over the 20 years, who speaks in a plain and common way, who has a very good sense of humor," says Brian Roftopoulos, an associate professor at the University of Zimbabwe.

EXTRA INFORMATION In-depth: Zimbabwe Election 2002

Tsvangirai began his career as a supporter of Mugabe but eventually turned against Mugabe's autocratic rule. In early 2000, he co-founded the MDC, the country's first-ever challenge to Mugabe's ZANU-PF party.

Two months later, voters dealt Mugabe his biggest defeat since independence, rejecting in a referendum his plans to expand his powers and seize white-owned land without compensation.

Mugabe's defeat marked the arrival of Tsvangirai, who used his union experience to mobilize large crowds at short notice. He also struck an alliance with the white landowners, a tactic that earned him Mugabe's wrath and accusations that the MDC is a pawn of former colonial power Britain.

But another tactic has earned him broad appeal.

"It has taken Morgan Tsvangirai's commitment to non-violence, it has taken his charisma and his articulation of issues, to shatter these racist stereotypes in society," says David Coulthard, MDC shadow minister for justice.

"And what has happened is that I think white people and black people and other minority groups are getting along far better in this country than they've ever done before."

But the struggle to build an opposition has been painful, as many have been killed in election-related violence.

And even some outside the ZANU-PF party wonder if Tsvangirai is experienced enough to take over.

"He's got a lot to learn in terms of gaining political experience," says Roftopoulos.

But Tsvangirai thinks he's ready -- ready to win, and ready to run the region's second-largest economy.

"I appreciate the challenge and I think psychologically, physically, mentally I am prepared for it." Tsvangirai says.

"I realize any failure on our part would send monumental disappointment to the people of this country. ... We are not blind to the fact that the challenge is really obvious, and with the collective leadership that we have, the capacity of the people in this country, I think we will set this country on a new direction."