Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is in Washington DC to accept the Harriman democracy and human rights award from the National Democratic Institute.

The Prime Minister's spokesperson, James Maridadi, said Tsvangirai will receive the award jointly with the Network of Choco Women of Colombia, and that the award ceremony will coincide with the institute's 25th anniversary celebration.

Maridadi said: "The Prime Minister received the prestigious Harriman Award in recognition of his selfless effort in championing restoration of the rule of law, democracy and good governance in Zimbabwe and Africa."

"Prime Minister Tsvangirai's dedication to democracy and the rule of law is there for all to see. He has suffered immensely at a personal level and at one time in his life, he spent more than a year staring the death sentence in the eye."

Previous recipients of the award include United Nations Secretary General Koffi Annan, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and US Presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan.

The Prime Minister arrived in DC on Sunday and is expected to return to Zimbabwe on Tuesday.