By Own Correspondent- Members of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) were behind the accident which claimed the two lives of MDC stalwarts leaving daughter to the late Morgan Tsvangirai, Vimbai Java battling for life at a local hospital.
ZimEye exclusively revealed the mystery surrounding the accident and how the police were mum on details of the other vehicle which reportedly collided head on with Vimbai’s car killing Paul Rukanda, who was Tsvangirai-Java’s campaign manager; and Tafadzwa Mhundwa, her cousin who was also an active party member.
They were killed on the spot.
2 hours of the accident, this publication had it on good authority that there was an invisible hand in the accident. Our news lead connected us to the identities of the soldiers and their phone numbers.
However, when ZimEye brought up the issue of conspiracy in the accident, this channel’s Simba Chikanza battled skepticism from some quarters of our readers…
“Someone is saying it was a head on collision, but it was a head on how?,” asked Chikanza.
He then continued saying the story of Vimbai’s accident can never be told while excluding, “this clear build up of repulsion by the state against anyone who opposes Emmerson Mnangagwa’s dialogue concept.”
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Reported ZimEye:
“All this is coming at a time when … Vimbai has in the last few days been outstanding in her backing Nelson Chamisa being the only Tsvangirai family member to be so openly and loudly vocal in support of Nelson Chamisa particularly his position against the so called dialogue that Emmerson Mnangagwa is demanding from Nelson Chamisa standing in opposite directions from her brother (Edwin) who criticised Nelson Chamisa’s position…at the memorial just last weekend…”
A local weekly publication, The Standard has since followed those leads and reported that police have closed off an investigation into the horror accident that claimed the lives on the basis that it involved soldiers.
Philda Muringani, who was driving the car was lucky to escape alive in the accident which allegedly involved three other cars.
However, it is reported that the driver of the other car, a Honda Fit, allegedly fled the scene.
Tsvangirai-Java’s family was last week told that the investigation had been closed after the driver of the car, which collided with theirs had died.
It has since emerged that the two cars were being driven by soldiers.
Tsvangirai-Java’s husband Batsirai collected the wreckage of her car from the Kwekwe Vehicle Inspection Department, but he was not given any paperwork.
Java refused to comment on the latest developments, saying he was preoccupied with raising money to settle his wife’s hospital bills, which have soared above US$10 000.
She is being treated by six specialists who have so far done four surgeries on her. The amount did not include RTGS charges.
“I am not in the right frame of mind to talk. I am preoccupied with raising money for my wife’s hospital bills,” he said.
However, a family source said they were told investigations had been halted after Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) officials at Guinea Fowl informed police that the army sergeant who was driving the Mazda vehicle had died last Wednesday.
Investigations also revealed that the driver of the Toyota Vitz that caused the accident was also a sergeant at the same base and is facing a court martial.
According to the sources, the Mazda vehicle had four people in civilian clothes, including the driver, but military uniforms were discovered at the back of the vehicles during police searches.
Three of the passengers were from the military intelligence department as shown by the identity documents, while others did not have IDs.
Muringani said she also heard people at the accident scene saying there were soldiers in the other vehicles.
The family fears that the move to court martial the surviving driver is an attempt to sweep the case under the carpet.
Midlands acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende referred questions to national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi.
However, Nyathi said he was not aware that investigations had been closed.
“I am not sure of the alleged closure. What I can confirm is that the driver of the other vehicle passed on,” he said.
Nyathi could also not comment on claims that the surviving driver was being court-martialled by the army.
“I am not aware of processes by sister departments,” he said.
ZNA spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Alphios Makotore last night confirmed that Staff Sergeant Lunga of army ordinances died after the accident.
Meanwhile, an unidentified man was caught trying to sneak into the intensive care unit where Tsvangrai-Java is being treated.
The family said the man kept giving different reasons why he wanted to see the MP after first claiming that he was her relative, then party member and a well-wisher who wanted to pray for her.