Zimbabwe MP wants US aid agency probed over Tsvangirai crash

CALL: Tsholotsho North MP Professor Jonathan Moyo

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• Tsvangirai's children rush home to be with their father

• Driver of Tsvangirai death crash truck 'not asleep': UK

• Tsvangirai flown to Botswana, party wants security review

• Tsvangirai death crash truck bought by US embassy

• Mugabe visits inured Tsvangirai

• Orbituary: The life of Susan Tsvangirai

• Tsvangirai injured, wife dead in car crash

• Prime Minister's inaugural address to parliament

• Online: Prime Minister's Website

Posted to the web: 09/03/2009 14:42:12
A ZIMBABWEAN MP has called for an international investigation into the activities of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Zimbabwe following a car crash which killed the wife of Prime Minister Morgan Tvsangirai.

Professor Jonathan Moyo, the only independent MP in Zimbabwe’s 210-member Assembly, said the involvement of a USAID employee in the tragic crash added “a worrying dimension”.

“It is the second incident in which a USAID driver has been involved in a matter affecting senior leadership of the country, this time with tragic consequences,” Moyo said hours after Tsvangirai told mourners gathered at his house that he believed the crash was an accident, ruling out foul play.

Another USAID driver, Frank Muchirahondo, was recently charged with attempting to assassinate the Commander of Zimbabwe’s Air Force, Air Marshal Perence Shiri in a gun attack. He is awaiting trial.

Moyo said: “When something of this kind happens once, it raises eyebrows. When it happens twice with such tragic consequences, and so soon, all hell breaks loose. And this is what really needs to be investigated: is this a coincidence or something Zimbabweans need to take stock of before there is a catastrophe?

“The fact that the British Foreign Office, followed by the Americans, was quick to issue a statement saying this was a genuine accident invites serious curiosity which can only be removed after an international investigation.

“Nobody should think that all Zimbabweans are foolish to think that a genuine accident is one that does not implicate Zanu PF. Indeed, it would utterly be ludicrous for anyone to believe that car accidents in Zimbabwe are genuine only if or when they involve USAID vehicles or drivers with British interests.

“Given the physical facts surrounding it, suspects in this tragic accident can only be those who have vigorously opposed the unity of Zimbabweans and who have responded to the formation of an inclusive government by extending their evil sanctions.”

Tsvangirai’s wife, Susan, died after their Toyota Land Cruiser was sideswiped by the truck belonging to USAID on the Harare-Masvingo road near Beatrice. The truck was carrying Aids drugs at the time on a project co-funded by the British and American governments.

Britain said on Sunday that “all indications are that this was a genuine accident”.

The truck driver, Chinoona Mwanda, appeared in court charged with culpable homicide on Monday before being released on bail.
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