Prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe was headed to a weekend rally in his home region when the accident occurred. State television said the truck swerved on an uneven and notoriously dangerous single-lane stretch of road on the outskirts of the capital, Harare. Tsvangirai's spokesman said the car carrying the prime minister, his wife, driver and bodyguard had sideswiped the truck and rolled at least three times.
Susan Tsvangirai, 50, was pronounced dead soon after arrival at a clinic about 25 miles
(40 kilometers) from Harare. They have six children together and had been married for 30 years.
(40 kilometers) from Harare. They have six children together and had been married for 30 years.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai left the hospital bandaged and mourning his wife Saturday after a car crash that his supporters blamed partly on insufficient security provided by President Robert Mugabe. Friday's crash nonetheless "could have been avoided" if Tsvangirai had the kind of motorcade that usually travels with Mugabe. Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change called for an investigation into the collision with a truck carrying U.S. aid, but cautioned against concluding that it was the latest assassination attempt against the longtime opposition leader.
"We cannot talk of foul play ... until it has been proved what has really transpired," said Tendai Biti, the country's new finance minister and Tsvangirai's No. 2 in the party. He did not say whether his party had requested a larger convoy for Tsvangirai at any time before the crash..
Mugabe sent the prime minister's family a message that called Susan Tsvangirai's death a "tragedy that has fallen on our nation at a time of great hope for our country," state radio reported.
"Great hope for our country"? I think to myself.
."This hypocrite even uses this tragic catastrophy to promote himself and his so called efforts to improve the situation of the disaster he´s caused this poor country over the years of his rule. Even if there has been foul play involved in the accident - how big are the chances that this will be exposed and tried in today´s Mugabeland?"
(Photos/parts of text: AP/Washington Post)
