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Home > HOME > Truck driver in Tsvangirai accident distraught

Truck driver in Tsvangirai accident distraught


Walter Marwizi

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 03:25:00 +0000

ARRESTED: Chinoona Mwanda, the driver of the deadly truck.



THE driver involved in the accident that resulted in the death of Susan Nyaradzo Tsvangirai, Prime Minister’s Morgan Tsvangirai’s wife, was distraught and begged for forgiveness yesterday.

Chinoona Mwanda (35), who battled to stop tears streaming down his face, was distressed as he showed police how the accident happened at the 86km peg near the Ngezi turn-off.

Mwanda went through the police indication process that lasted about 40 minutes, battling emotions.

Just two metres away from where he was, lay on its roof, the wreckage of the Toyota Landcruiser AAW 4478 in which the Prime Minister and wife were travelling. Its windows were shattered.

Both Tsvangirai and his wife were pulled out of the mangled remains of the vehicle on Friday afternoon and rushed to Beatrice hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Mwanda took part in rescuing the couple who were on their way to Buhera for an MDC rally at Murambinda Growth Point.

Afterwards the driver was taken to Featherstone Police station by officers who feared he was “so disturbed that he could have committed suicide”.

Mwanda, who stopped a few metres from the accident scene, was said to have been shaken by the realisation that the occupants of the vehicle were the Prime Minister and his wife.

He spent the night at the police station and was taken to the scene yesterday around 9am.

It was evident the bald headed and bearded 35-year-old knew that the accident, besides the loss of life, had the potential to poison the political environment in Zimbabwe.

“I am asking for forgiveness,” was all he could say, tears forming in his eyes.

Mwanda was driving a Nissan Diesel truck belonging to the USaid that hit a hump in the road, which is clearly a hazard on the accident-prone highway.

Police say the “killer hump” may have been formed after road construction workers who were filling in potholes on the road left a mound of tarring material on the road.

Information gathered on the scene and from police who attended the accident shows that as a result of the impact of hitting the hump, which is only on one side of the road, Mwanda’s vehicle encroached onto the other lane side-swiping the Toyota Landcruiser in which the Tsvangirais were travelling in.

It was clear from the wreck of the Landcruiser that the truck’s bumper did not do much damage to the Prime Minister’s car, which was escorted by two vehicles — one in front and the other at the back.

However, distinct marks on the tarmac show that the Landcruiser then veered off the road and landed on its roof facing the opposite direction about 10 metres from the hump. It was extensively damaged and Tsvangirai and his wife were pulled out through the front passenger door.

Police said the injured Prime Minister and his wife were ferried in the escort vehicles to Beatrice, where Susan was pronounced dead. The damaged Landcruiser remained at the scene of the accident yesterday where 10 police officers were guarding the scene. One of them had an AK47.

Information gathered yesterday showed that human rights lawyer Chris Mhike had been hired to represent Mwanda, who is likely to face culpable homicide charges related to the accident.

Mhike confirmed the vehicle belongs to USaid but that it was on business for the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council project funded by USaid.

-The Standard

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ARTICLE ATTACHMENTS

READER OPINIONS

DREADS na
Subject: DONT TWIST IT, DUDE
Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:15:15
Tenda, you twisting da facts.
You state no driver would yearn for an accident?
WHO SAID THAT? no one said that.
YOU are twisting facts to suit your own purpose.


Tenda tenmaj@blueyonder.co.uk
Subject: Sad Occasion
Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:19:01
Unclezak and White Fang are very stupid.Both writers need to seek the their doctor's attention, hence they suffer from mental disorders.Death is a negative output, thus mature politicians they don't take political mileage on the death of person from all political divides.As Zimbabweans our heartfelt condolences to PM Tsvangirai and his family for the loss of Susan under such circumstances.To all writers please can we share valued scripts instead of posting inflamatory comments when the nation is advocating for nation healing process. According to my own views no driver would yearn for an accident. LETS WAIT AND SEE the post mortem report of the accident from well trained responsible authorities.


zach unclezak@hotmail.co.uk
Subject: killer roads need attention
Mon, 09 Mar 2009 11:24:03
Nematambudziko.The government need to lead by example,they will spend state money on their family & friends yet the countries roads,hospitals and education just to mention a few are being ignored.Greedy old fashioned thinking is the enermy,it`s all me me me!!.EDUCATE THE YOUNG, DONT IGNORE THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE THE FUTURE.


WHITE FANG na.
Subject: THE KILLER HUMP IS TO BLAME.
Sun, 08 Mar 2009 23:14:39
n/a n/a you state:
this man is a law abiding citizen who read and understood the high way code on what to do when you get involved in an accident???
you go on to state that - might be a victim, but you will be victorious because the human rights laws are behind you???
n/a n/a You are assuming that the man has a legal driving licence and he did sit and study the highway code and pass with flying colours?
Sorry,
but if he was law abiding he would not have been speeding for starters!
Who said he was not asleep and who said he was asleep? was he drunk?
Answers please.
Furthermore, perhaps this the driver's karma?
What terrible wrong has Chioona done that he has been used as a Tool of the Devil in such a tragic incident that is making the world sit up and look at our President sideways again?
It would be interesting also just to know if he is an MDC supporter - if he is then you will know why he wants to commit suicide.
Poor man.
I feel sorry for him because when his family get hold of him, after the CIO, they are the ones who are going to be furious he was speeding, and his wife must be as spitting mad as a snake. He had a very good job, a position of trust which he abused and now he has nothing.
Or, are we now shifting the blame to the road workers who should be hung for leaving a pile of dirt in the middle of the road?
Who were these workers?
Where are they now?
(Police say the “killer hump” may have been formed after road construction workers who were filling in potholes on the road left a mound of tarring material on the road.)
If it had been ANYONE ELSE except our beloved Mrs T, it probably would have gone unreported and the killer hump would remain there to take other lives.
HAS IT BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED AND REMOVED YET? OR IS IT STILL THERE?
These roadworkers must also be held responsible. They left the killer hump there. Such laziness. Such irresponsibility!
Were you lot too busy cooking lunch to worry about a hump in the road, heh? Answers please.


Nana Kofi fiifibenyin_br@yahoo.com
Subject: We wish the PM GOD'S speed and we pray for the family.
Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:48:35
What a tragic event.My prayers are with the family of the Prime minister .May God grant that departed soul of his beautiful and beloved wife a perfect peace in Heaven.I also ask for God's guidance for the beautiful people of Zimbabwe to turn this unfortunate incident into fresh renewal of compassion,genuine forgiveness and hope.I also appreciate the brotherly role President Mugabe has shown.He must continue to reach out to the young PM and forge a better Zimbabwe for all.The whole world is watching and we the pan Africanists movement are behind them 100% and believe that if they work together for the common good of mother Zimbabwe,they will prevail.
I will always remember my memorable few weeks I spent in Zimbabwe some months ago.I will cherish the hospitality I received forever.My sincere thanks to the DJ who gave me the music CD which I used in my video about Zimbabwe.Those interested to watch the video can search,fiifibenyin at the youtube page.
Thank you so much and may God bless Zimbabwe!


Gerrard Mabandi w0504g@yahoo.co.uk
Subject: Confession
Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:10:26
I think the writer with a comment that is full of questions is losing it. Your questions are plain stupid and you are one of those people that act without thinking. It is clearly said that this vehicle was used for ferrying AIDS/HIV supplies and the driver meaning Chioona was hired to drive this truck. The point you are missing here is that Chioona is a Zimbabwean employed (HIRED or UNDER CONTRACT) by the USaid to drive this truck. There is nowhere where it was mentioned that the driver who was supposed to drive this car did not report for duty so as to hire Chioona. Chioona is the driver and was not drafted to cover for someone who was supposed to drive the vehicle. As for where the consignment was coming from and going is not relevant here as it is being widely reported that there is no foul play here. What we need now is for every Zimbabwean where ever we are to join hands and extend our deepest sympathies to the PM's family not some unwarranted and directionless type of investgation that you are proposing. I am not saying an investigation isn't necessary here but lets not call for one that will cause tension in the country. Chioona was involved in an accident and will be part of this investigation and he will cooperate as much as he can so that the investgators will get to the bottom of this.


Motormouth! n/a
Subject: n/a
Sun, 08 Mar 2009 16:57:27
N/A, you can get all the answers to those questions you have raised here from McGee of the American embassy. I dont believe the driver is guilty of anything and if you want to be a conspiracy theorist, then ask McGee why he wanted to murder his golf partner? What has changed in their relationship? The answer to the last question is Tsvangson decided to join an Inclusive govt in response to the plight of the Zimbabwean people much to the chargrin, bewilderment and resentment of the Brits and Americons. This gives the Americons a plausible reason of wanting to get rid of him and not the Zimbabwean authorities. The coconut's govt recently extended sanctions against us and that should tell you how they feel by the creation of the Inclusive govt! This is, if you are inclined that way, a conspiracy theorist's view of the accident seeing that it was not a Zimbabwean govt vehicle but an USAID agency one! Dont cry for your stupid masters as they are also not involved in this horrible accident! Even they did not plan this one! It was just an ACCIDENT caused by a badly maintained road that needed immediate reconstruction into a dual carriageway which the govt had wanted to do before the sanctions were applied which put a stop to everything! Can't talk more about the sanctions as we now see that they are not targetted at all like we have been saying all along! Got that?


Tendai n/a
Subject: CIA
Sun, 08 Mar 2009 15:51:07
The USaid truck, driver and US funding trail, must be investigated thoroughly.
The CIA are notorious and of late the Prime Minister had been referring to 'restrictive measures' and 'irreversibility'

The UK foreign and commonwealth office's utterances that the driver was 'not asleep' are very curious


n/a n/a
Subject: n/a
Sun, 08 Mar 2009 13:49:10
Kuvhunduka chati kwatara hunge une katurike. You can correctly spell the schedule. What is your problem? If you are in the game answer the questions and stop fuming unnecessary. You are wasting your time instead of answering the questions.

Watch your back.............who is there?


N/A N/A
Subject: N/A
Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:39:45
We must all try to desist from being prosecutor, judge and jury to this driver. Why has the name of the truck driver and his picture been divulged? Where is his privacy? Why has the name of the Landcruiser driver not been released as well? We have not heard the version of events from the driver of the Land cruiser and from other witnesses at the scene. We all know that Beatrice Road is a hot spot for accidents.Why not let the investigation into the accident conclude first and then we can all come to an informed decision about what may have been the cause? Trial via web-based forums is not justice.


n/a n/a
Subject: n/a
Sun, 08 Mar 2009 11:19:13
this is why you can not spell the word schedule, because you are an idiot... simple as.... the man asked for forgiveness. Pool cars for USAID have no usual drivers they are used on duty by the driver on duty or shift. local regional national and international persons in their individualities and together they described the incident as an accident... you know what an accident is Tsaona... njodzi.....do not use the incident to try and stretch your polictical opinion, however, you can but to a certain point beyond which it will be realised by audience that you are talking nonsense. let morgan recover well and let it be soon, allow susan to rest in peace..there is no investigation here it is procedure just to try and restore confidence and as part of policy and procedure to try and be politically correct. mwanza you are a law abiding citizen who read and understood the high way code on what to do when you get involved in an accident. thanks once more for your courtesy and help soon after the accident. nevertheless, you still have to be tried for dangerous driving and causing death. you might be a victim, but you will be victorious because the human rights laws are behind you. it is very important that they represent you because of the sensitivity of the incident and its correlation to politics and suspicious assasination plots that many people are levelling on ZANU PF, which is ridiculous.


Wise Man N/A
Subject: N/A
Sun, 08 Mar 2009 09:56:36
In Shona accident is tsaona. That means it is something not planned. I do not see any reason why the driver should want to commit suicide for this, there have been many accidents. And the fact that the dead is the wife of the Prime Minister should also not be reason enough to kill yourself, munhu munhu as long as you were not hired to do the job.


n/a n/a
Subject: Confession
Sun, 08 Mar 2009 05:04:19
What the driver said is in concession with my suspicion. The driver should tell the nation who is behind the assassination attempt. He should not waste our time.

Is this driver a Zimbabwean? Is the trip a usual trip or its one those kind of trips outside scxhedule? Is the driver, the usual driver of the consignment? Who is the actual driver of the vehicle?

Where was the consignment coming from and going to? what is the unusual in the whole process? MDC T and police answer the questions.



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