Susan Tsvangirai - Accident Or By Design

I was talking to a friend of mine based in Harare about the talk surrounding the untimely death of Susan Tsvangirai, the Prime Miniter's wife. It was as though I was talking taboo!. It is something that people do try to avoid talking about to strangers, but , behind closed doors, it is a foregone conclussion that "of-course the government had a hand!, as has always been the case". The first question he asked me was "since when have I been into politics?". It was not until I conviced him to talk that we started talking.

This accident came at a time when everyone thought "maybe" the GNU might work. But the fast turn of events in that beliguered state lives so many questions than answers. These are questions whose answers may never be known. The MDC just confirmed they have their own independent invesigators who are looking into tis case so we could be heading for yet another showdown.

In Zimbabwe findings of Inquiries have never been made public since. The president was the only person with a right to establish an Inquiry into an alleged offence against the state or the people of the land. Since independence, there have been several in quiries whose findings have been kept away from the public. Only one Inquiry was ever made public, the Sandura Commision that investigated the Willovale scandal that had already been exposed by seasoned investigative journalists like Geoff Nyarota. That expese' almost cost him his life too as threats started flowing in from ZANU PF top officials....but the damage had already been done and the entire country knew who had looted where and how.

This scandal led to a siege in government with some Ministers "committing" suicide and others arrested and then later given the Presidential pardon. Well, all those were opportunities missed for justice to be dealt to mischivious and fraudulent ZANU PF officials.

I have no doubt however this time that heads will tumble, the findings of this investigation must be made public and Zimbabweans have been deprived of this justice for a long time. The schemers and planners, if ever there are, of such tracherous acts must be expossed and brought to the fore to dance to their music. An accident is an accident, but when it happens to high profile people under Zimbabwe's circumstances, it can not just go without a proper investigation. Everyone wants to know if it was a "design and schedule" accident or just an unfortunate genuine accident.

For starters, by the look of things, it had once seemed pretty obvious to everyone that the "accident" had in all respect, been a "guided accident". The Prime Minister himself, Morgan Tsvangirai actually conceaded hours after the so called "accident" that took away his wife's life that he believed the "accident" was not genuine, then the following day he flew out to Botswana. The president of Botswana, Seretse Khama, had always oppossed this so called "Government of National Unity" and believes to date, that it gives a bad presidence to other African dictators who will be encouraged to believe they have a right to remain in power even if they are beaten fair and square in a general election. Zimbabwe is not the first, but there was Kenya first, a fight between Odinga and Kibaki, Guinea Bissau could be going the same direction too!.

In Botswana, Morgan Tsvangirai received a flood of advises from varying office bearers and stakeholders who believed that his initial statement was "a bit reckless" and he had to retract his statement by announcing that he did not think there was any foul play in the accident that took his wife's life, thus adopting a "reconciliatory stance to iron out the rift". He was told "we know there is a hand", but this GNU is still too young and it may mean a dismal failure for SADC and it will unfortunately leave "Big Brother" South Africa in the cold and too exposed as they try to show courage and intent in reconstructing Zimbabwe. South Africa has put its head on the block for Robert Mugabe for to long and they must know that in Zimbabwe, the "JOC" is still functioning well behind closed doors.

There is a lot of evidence giving rise and credence to my belief. The persistent "witch hunt" by the state organs in Zimbabwe points to this fact that the "JOC" is still operational. On Tuesday the 17th, 26 MDC activists were arested. The refusal by the state institutions to release the detained activists despite the fact that the GNU should have given rise to "the spirit of reconciliation", is also a pointer that there are some elements within the GNU who have continued to fight the MDC. The continued and untiring abuse of power by the Security Commisioners and the Attorney General in pursuing Roy Bennett's case, the Mukoko's case and many more all point to stark disharmony within government and a body infested with cancerous cells.

Going back to the "accident", it could have been the accident took place by design, a pure attempt on Morgan Tsvangirai's life by the ZANU PF top brass. This in itself does not necessarily mean that Robert Mugabe knew about the "plan". He may have been subverted and kept in the dark whilst his officers planned this. Remember, Mugabe does not run the government anymore, even though he still has a resounding word in how things are done, in reality, it is his security officers who are running the day to day ZANU PF side of the government and they do not need the President's go ahead to do some of these hideous and GNU demeaning acts.

In my previous article, titled So Little To Show Of ZANU PF's Committment To The GNU I spoke only days before the accident that "Uncle Bob has always managed to pull fast ones and one wonders what trick lies ahead in waiting for the MDC". It was almost like a prediction. But the sombre look on Mugabe's face on the day of the accident was showing a lot of remmorse and despair to try and show the world how committed he is to this GNU by visiting Morgan Tsvangirai in Hospital. The President looked as though he had been missed by a train!. It could have been pretence for all we know, but if it was, it was damn good!. A classic master piece.

In the meantime, we sit tight and await what comes out of the investigation...