Wife of Zimbabwean Prime Minister Dies
Zimbabwe Mourns Loss of Susan Tsvangirai Who Died in a Car Accident
Mar 9, 2009
Susan Tsvangirai’s death comes on the heels of a power-sharing agreement that her husband entered into with sitting Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. Just weeks ago, Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Party, was sworn-in as the Prime Minister of the deeply troubled nation.
Mrs. Tsvangirai, whose political ideologies reflected those of her husband, had been a consistent supporter of her husband's political dealings and campaigns. It is clear that she will be greatly missed by many, both in Zimbabwe and abroad. As Thabitha Khumalo, a member of the parliament for the MDC, explained to the BBC: Mrs. Tsvangirai was a “mother figure for the whole nation” and her loss is a “huge blow” for the country.
The Accident and Its Aftermath
The car accident which took Susan Tsvangirai’s life occurred as she and her husband were traveling from the capital of Harare back to his rural home near Buhera. It was during this trip that their vehicle collided with a larger truck on a two-lane road. Although the cause of the accident is not yet entirely clear, some reports indicate that it may have been caused by the driver of the other truck who is said to have fallen asleep at the wheel.
As a result of the accident, Mrs. Tsvangirai suffered head injuries and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. The Prime Minister suffered minor injuries as well and was taken to a hospital in Harare. He was later flown to Botswana in the private jet of Botswanan President Ian Seretse Khama to continue his recovery, before returning to Zimbabwe for his wife’s funeral. This action may be interpreted as a strong sign of support for Tsvangirai from the Botswanan president who has openly criticized President Mugabe for his handling of the country.
Political and Economic Climate
Zimbabwe, which gained its independence from Great Britain in 1980, once boasted one of the most stable economies in Africa. Recently, however, the country has experienced extraordinary political and economic woes. President Robert Mugabe has been extensively criticized by those in the international community for allowing the country to fall into ruins. The nation suffers from hyper-inflation, a shortage of food and other goods, and a cholera epidemic that has sent many Zimbabweans across the borders into neighboring countries in search of relief.
Tsvangirai, who first ran for president against Mugabe in 2002, has been a key player in trying to loosen Mugabe’s grip on the country. Mrs. Tsvangirai, who was also a strong supporter of the democratic process and the change that her husband was attempting to bring to the country had demonstrated her commitment to the cause when she commented that “People went through hell, but they stuck to their ideals to seek change through democratic means” (See “Car-truck crash kills Zimbabwe prime minister’s wife, injures him”).
Tsvangirai, now the Prime Minister, will certainly have an uphill battle to try to restore order to a country that many worry may be beyond repair.
Questions of Foul Play
Though there is a great deal of speculation as to whether foul play was involved in the events that took Susan Tsvangirai's life, as of now there is no evidence to indicate that the accident was anything more than just that: an accident. While many scholars and experts in Zimbabwean politics have regarded staged car accidents as an element of Mugabe’s engineered political control in the nation, no concrete evidence has suggested that this was the case in the incident involving Tsvangirai. However, detailed investigations will certainly be carried out in the following weeks.
Mourning and Loss
In the meantime, supporters of Susan Tsvangirai’s life and work will mourn the loss of a dynamic woman who served as a mother-figure for the nation and was, in the words of the MDC’s Secretary-General and Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, a “people’s hero.”
