Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai says no need to probe wife's death - he is convinced that his wife was not assassinated

July 3rd, 2009

 

 

Harare (Zimbabwe) — Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says he is convinced that his wife was not assassinated, putting to rest speculation about the fatal road accident that became the unity government's first biggest test after its inauguration in February.

The circumstances leading to Mrs Susan Tsvangirai's death were some of the most uncomfortable issues that confronted the former opposition leader during his three week tour of the United States and Europe that ended at the weekend.

The Tsvangirais were involved in an accident weeks after President Robert Mugabe's former arch rival joined the unity government and Mrs Tsvangirai died on the spot.

Speculation was rife that the accident was planned after Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said it was launching its own investigations.

Government said it was investigating a commercial farmer after he photographed the accident scene before the police arrived.

But results of both investigations have not been made public.

"I can safely say it was an accident," Mr Tsvangirai said in Paris, a day before he returned to Zimbabwe. I was involved in the accident and I could have died there. I know what happened."

"There is bound to be speculation because of Zimbabwe's history of accidents involving high profile people that have not been properly explained but I will be the first one to say the one that unfortunately took away my wife's life was genuine.

Scores of senior politicians have died on Zimbabwe's roads since independence in 1980 after falling out of favour with the rulers and investigations into their deaths have remained closely guarded secrets.

Last week, the wife of an army general who was found dead inside his vehicle on a railway level crossing ruffled feathers when she put an advert in the state media saying she believed her husband was assassinated.

Brigadier Armstrong Gunda died in 2007 after he was linked to a group of army officers who were implicated in an alleged plot to topple Mr Mugabe.

Mr Tsvangirai said he never contemplated abandoning politics after the accident because his wife would have wanted him to continue.

I knew her wish was to see the full democratisation of Zimbabwe, he said. That route (leaving politics) was also not considered in the party and instead we were encouraged to fulfill the mandate we were given by people.

The former trade unionists survived a number of attempts on his life including a severe bashing at the hands of the police after he tried to attend a prayer meeting in May 2007. Mr Mugabe said his then fierce opponent deserved the bashing because he had provoked the police.

But Mr Tsvangirai who was forced to defend the 85-year old Mr Mugabe's right to remain in government despite an electoral defeat said he had developed a good working relationship with the veteran ruler.

"We have reached a stage where we had to ask ourselves if our acrimonious rivalry was benefiting Zimbabweans, Mr Tsvangirai said. "Around this time last year it was totally inconceivable that I will sit in the same cabinet with Mugabe. But now I will be the first one to defend his right to a place in the transition. Our relationship is business like."

Last year, Mr Tsvangirai who beat President Mugabe in March elections pulled out of the June 27 presidential election runoff citing mounting violence against his supporters.

source.The Nation (Kenya)