Suicide rumours swell after Chikowore's death

Suicide rumours swell after Chikowore's death

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By Staff Reporter

QUESTIONS have arisen pertaining the sudden death of Zanu PF bigwig Enos Chikowore in Harare on Tuesday, with speculation rife in the capital that the former Cabinet minister could have taken his life, but only an autopsy can reveal the exact cause of death.

Chikowore, who was the ruling party’s secretary for Lands and Resettlement in the Politburo, died under suspicious circumstances at his Umwinsidale home with a family spokesperson Bright Matonga saying: “We are also keen to know what really transpired to our father.”

Meanwhile, Zanu PF has declared Chikowore a national hero in honour of his sterling contribution to the development of Zimbabwe before and after independence.

According to Newsnet last night, Chikowore’s body will be taken to his rural home in Mhondoro Thursday where it will lie in state before returning to Harare for burial at the national shrine on Friday.

Chikowore, once a legislator for Kadoma Central, died hours after attending the ruling party’s special meeting to choose candidates for the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Sixth Parliament of Zimbabwe. Party national chairman John Nkomo and Edna Madzongwe, were unanimously elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker soon after the new legislators’ swearing-in on Tuesday.

Impeccable sources within Zanu PF said there could be a semblance of truth to the rumours making the rounds in town, but only a post-mortem could bring out the cause of death.

“Seemingly there might be some semblance of truth to what people are saying. But it has got to be verified. If he committed suicide, the police should investigate,” the source said, adding, Chikowore, who was once viewed as President Robert Mugabe’s confidante, was a depressed man without elaborating.

Matonga said the family was waiting for the doctors’ report on the exact cause of Chikowore’s death, whose liberation war name was General Chedu. “We are not sure what actually happened,” said Matonga, the former Zupco boss.

But the incoming Member of Parliament for Mhondoro-Ngezi, Matonga, dismissed unconfirmed reports rife in Harare, and being peddled by news wires as well, that Chikowore committed suicide saying: “They are mere allegations. There is no substance in that at all. No one was there. He did not commit suicide...”

Police spokesperson, Blessmore Chishaka, said from the Police General Headquarters that he was unaware of any investigations, if any, into the matter.

Chikowore, who became Zimbabwe’s first Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing in 1980, becoming minister two years later, joined the liberation struggle in the late 1950s.

Before his resignation in 2000, he had been one of the longest serving Cabinet Ministers holding numerous posts including Minister of Public Construction and National Housing credited with building affordable houses for a significant number of ordinary Zimbabweans.

However, his political career was chequered by his unceremonious departure as Minister of Transport and Energy under a barrage of criticism when the country experienced its worst fuel crisis ever.
Daily Mirror
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