Tsvangirai dismisses possibility of foul play in wife's death

Harare, Mar. 10 (ANI): Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has dismissed the possibility of foul play in the road accident, which killed his wife, Susan, even as his party members are still suspicious about the causes.

Addressing mourners at his home, Tsvangirai described the car crash as a pure accident and that he had no reason to think it was another attempt on his life.

The Movement for Democratic Change sources contradicted Tsvangirai's statement, saying that many party members would have preferred him to make pronouncements only after the party's own investigation into the accident was completed, The Independent reports.

"His statement has probably made any investigation superfluous," a senior MDC official said, adding that many in the party and outside harbored suspicions about the accident.

Earlier, many civic activists and party supporters were profoundly skeptical that elements in President Robert Mugabe's ruling party were somehow involved in Friday's highway crash. The MDC party had decided to conduct its own investigation in the mysterious death of Susan, 50.

On Monday, Tsvangirai urged mourners to celebrate Susan's life, by saying, "When something happens, there is always speculation but I want to say in this case ... it was one in a thousand. It was an accident and unfortunately it took her life. All of us will die, we must celebrate life."

"I am sure she would have liked life to go on. It will be difficult without her, but I want to thank God for the 31 years with my wife," he added.

Tsvangirai, who has been the target of assassination attempts in the past and fled the country last year out of fear for his life, was sworn in as prime minister in a power-sharing government with Mugabe only last month.

Both parties have been involved in the power struggles since.

Tsvangirai's former spokesman, George Sibotshiwe, said the accident may have been avoided if the state had released Tsvangirai's own armoured vehicle confiscated last June. (ANI)