(TALKZIMBABWE) Tsvangirai crash: three drivers linked to USAID, DFID

Tsvangirai crash: three drivers linked to USAID, DFID
Our reporter
Fri, 13 Mar 2009 05:23:00 +0000

THREE United States Agency for International Development (USAID) drivers are linked to the crash that claimed the life of Mrs Susan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe Prime Minister's wife, the Zimbabwe Guardian has learnt.

Mrs Tsvangirai died on Friday last week after a vehicle she was travelling in, together with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, was involved in a collision with a USAID registered truck.

ABC News reported on the day of the crash that the accident truck belonged to a contractor working for the U.S. and British governments.

According to ABC News: "U.S. officials ... said the vehicle was owned by (a) contractor, (and) had a USAID insignia on it. The vehicle was purchased by the contractor with U.S. government money, and the driver was hired and paid by a British development agency" -- the Department for International Development (DfID).

According to sources, another U.S. registered truck was behind the crash truck, driven by Chinoona Mwanda (35), when the accident occured on Friday. Mwanda was a DfID contracted driver "on routine business" according to sources.

Another driver employed by USAID in Zimbabwe is facing trial on charges of attempting to kill Air Marshall Perence Shiri.

Frank Muchirahondo was arrested on January 22 at Forbes Border post in Mutare. The state alleged that he was attempting to run away from the country when he was apprehended.

Air Marshall Shiri was shot in the hand after he was ambushed by gunmen while driving to his farm in December last year.

An unnamed driver was driving another truck resembling the crash truck when the deadly accident occured on Friday. He is also believed to be employed by DfID and the truck is also believed to have a US registered number plate and USAID insignia.

U.S. EVASIVE

The U.S. has dodged questions on the ownership of the crash truck.

A statement released by the U.S. embassy in Harare on Thursday did not name the owner of the truck. The statement only said the truck "was purchased with USAID funds by a contractor and belonged to the contractor."

When asked about the ownership of the truck on Tuesday, the Acting U.S. Deputy Department Spokesman Gordon Duguid was evasive.

"We obviously send our condolences to the friends and family of Morgan Tsvangirai. This is a real tragedy and – you know, an unspeakable tragedy. And nothing beyond that in terms of discussions," he said.

"From all the reports we’ve seen, and I believe even Mr. Tsvangirai has commented on it, this appears to have been just an unfortunate accident."