There was no immediate statement from Mr. Tsvangirai’s Movement for
Democratic Change party on the crash and party officials said there were no
plans to issue one.
Sources within the party who declined to speak on the record expressed
suspicions about the incident in which the articulated truck swerved from
the oncoming lane into the three-car convoy in which the Tsvangirais were
traveling, clipping their middle vehicle.
Elections Director Dennis Murira of Mr. Tsvangirai’s MDC formation gave an
account of the crash to reporter Ntungamili Nkomo of VOA’s Studio 7 for
Zimbabwe.
Differences between Mr. Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe over the
detention of MDC officials among issues have sharpened just three weeks
after the formation of the national unity government formed as a solution to
the country’s post-election crisis.
Hard-liners in Mr. Mugabe’s long-ruling ZANU-PF party are believed to have
opposed the formation of the unity government and to be intent upon bringing
it down.
Spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, an assistant
commissioner, said the crash occurred around 5 p.m. on the highway from
Harare to Masvingo.
Bvudzijena confirmed that a truck headed for Harare veered into the lane in
which the prime minister’s vehicle was traveling and sideswiped the Toyota
Land Cruiser. According to Bvudzijena and others the vehicle rolled over
three times before coming to rest.
Murira said Susan Tsvangirai was declared dead on arrival at a hospital in
Beatrice, south of Harare. He said Tsvangirai sustained only minor scratches
and bruises.
But, said Murira, "the devastating news is that he has lost his beloved
wife, a woman who was of immense significance to the party, a woman who on
several occasions managed to comfort a number of us who were victims of this
struggle."
Mr. Tsvangirai was traveling to Buhera, Manicaland province, where he had
planned to spend the night and attend a party meeting Saturday at the
Murambinda Business Center.
A statement issued by the MDC formation led by Deputy Prime Minister Arthur
Mutambara said the party was "shocked and deeply sorry" at Susan
Tsvangirai’s death, describing her as a "wonderful, warm, down-to-earth
mother of the nation."
Earnest Mudzengi, director of the National Constitutional Assembly, told
reporter Patience Rusere of VOA’s Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that the death of
Susan Tsvangirai, 50, was "painful and shocking" coming so soon after
Tsvangirai’s swearing in as prime minister.
He said he had known Susan Tsvangirai since 2000, one year after the
formation of the MDC, and said she was extremely supportive to her husband
in his years leading the opposition, especially when he was arrested and
badly beaten by police in March 2007.
Mudzengi said he would not venture to say whether the crash was anything
other than an accident, but "many people who I have talked to, their first
question would be was this not a politically motivated accident" in light of
tensions within the unity government.
Ordinary Zimbabweans mourned the death of Susan Tsvangirai.
A Kadoma resident who gave his name only as George said he learned of her
death through a text message and said he hopes she will be recognized as a
national heroine.
Tawanda Maurise of Mutare said he heard of Mrs. Tsvangirai’s death on VOA’s
Studio 7 and expressed the hope that the fatal crash will not derail the
unity government.
voanews.com
Post published in: News