That will be understandable given the dodgy record of traffic accidents on Zimbabwe’s roads.
Barely a month ago, MDC-T’s Vice-President, Thokozani Khupe, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, narrowly escaped death in a road accident near Kwekwe, which claimed the life of one of her workers. She was travelling from Bulawayo to Harare for the swearing in of new government ministers when tragedy struck.
Only in December Elliott Manyika died in another road accident while on his way to Gwanda on Zanu PF party business.
Mrs Tsvangirai joins a list of illustrious Zimbabweans, among them Josiah Magama Tongogara, who perished needlessly when they were about to enjoy the fruits of our hard-won freedom.
The death on Friday afternoon emphasises the need to improve security arrangements around the new leadership.
Initial reports said the driver of a truck travelling in the opposite direction apparently fell asleep at the wheel. Mrs Tsvangirai died at the scene while her husband and the driver of their vehicle were injured.
There will be a compelling urge to point fingers and apportion blame. That, too, is understandable.
Prime Minister Tsvangirai has survived three previous attempts on his life. It is understandable that there is growing suspicion among supporters and that it will be difficult to quell their anger.
But there is need to keep level heads, even in these trying times, given the insincerity of some of the parties to the new political dispensation and even against the background of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s warning about "residual parallel structures that attempt to
manipulate the process and procedures of government for personal or political gain". Also worrying are outstanding issues that continue to act as impediments to progress.
There is need to restrain our anger and allow for full investigations by the government and the MDC-T, whose results must be made public.
Mrs Tsvangirai played a critical role in supporting her husband as he suffered persecution at the hands of state security agents, ironically the people who are among those now offering him close security.
What must pain the immediate Tsvangirai family, the MDC-T in particular, and the nation in general is that her life has been terminated at a time when the ideals which she and her husband fought for were nearer than they have ever been.
But questions will be raised about the security given the new leadership, while the loss of Mrs Tsvangirai will be an indictment on the state of Zimbabwe’s roads, which raises concerns about how many more people – never mind high-profile figures – should continue to perish before
the government does something.
Mrs Tsvangirai’s death only serves to highlight the state of
unpreparedness of Zimbabwe to play a significant role in hosting some of the
teams in next year’s 2010 Fifa soccer World Cup in South Africa.
While Zimbabwe says it welcomes the hosting of the world soccer
extravaganza, it has done little to show its readiness to share part of the
business that the soccer showpiece will bring to this part of the world.
Our roads, airports, hotels, and our driving must be the starting
points in demonstrating our preparedness in welcoming visitors to the soccer
festival, potentially a lucrative national showcase.
thezimbabwestandard
Post published in: News