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Tsvangirai crash cause questioned Tsvangirai crash cause questioned
(31 minutes later)
Early reports from an investigation by Zimbabwe's MDC suggest that a car crash which killed PM Morgan Tsvangirai's wife may not have been accidental.Early reports from an investigation by Zimbabwe's MDC suggest that a car crash which killed PM Morgan Tsvangirai's wife may not have been accidental.
Senior MDC officials told the BBC that investigators are questioning the cause of the March crash, in which Mr Tsvangirai was injured. Senior MDC officials told the BBC that investigators were questioning the cause of the March crash, in which Mr Tsvangirai was injured.
At first, Mr Tsvangirai said he thought the crash had been an accident.At first, Mr Tsvangirai said he thought the crash had been an accident.
The MDC, formerly in opposition, entered a power-sharing agreement with President Robert Mugabe in February.The MDC, formerly in opposition, entered a power-sharing agreement with President Robert Mugabe in February.
But the evidence which has so far come to light in the MDC investigation leads senior MDC officials to believe that the whole affair was highly questionable, says the BBC's John Simpson, who has been in Zimbabwe.But the evidence which has so far come to light in the MDC investigation leads senior MDC officials to believe that the whole affair was highly questionable, says the BBC's John Simpson, who has been in Zimbabwe.
The car carrying Mr Tsvangirai and his wife was hit by a lorry on a main road south of Harare.The car carrying Mr Tsvangirai and his wife was hit by a lorry on a main road south of Harare.
US embassy officials say the lorry belonged to a partner organisation of the US government aid agency USAID.
'No help from guards'
Our correspondent, who visited the site on Thursday, said there were still marks on the road, and small pieces of debris in the bush where the car ended up.
Morgan and Susan Tsvangirai had been married for 31 years
The MDC now believes that the man driving the lorry was an ex-soldier who had replaced the usual driver a short time before.The MDC now believes that the man driving the lorry was an ex-soldier who had replaced the usual driver a short time before.
According to a senior source, when Mr Tsvangirai's convoy reached a long, straight stretch of road his escort car, supplied by Zimbabwe's Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) suddenly speeded up and drove on out of sight. The driver has been charged but was released on bail.
Mr Tsvangirai's car was accompanied by two cars provided by the government, and driven by men from Zimbabwe's Central Intelligence Organisation, which is loyal to President Mugabe. One car led the way, the other followed Mr Tsvangirai.
According to a senior source, when the convoy reached a long, straight stretch of road the escort car suddenly speeded up and drove on out of sight.
Soon afterwards a lorry appeared, coming fast over the brow of a hill from the opposite direction.Soon afterwards a lorry appeared, coming fast over the brow of a hill from the opposite direction.
It sideswiped Mr Tsvangirai's car, and knocked it off the road. The MDC sources say it sideswiped Mr Tsvangirai's car, hitting the rear offside.
Mrs Tsvangirai was killed outright, and her husband was injured. The car veered across the road and landed in the bush on the far side, upside down. Mrs Tsvangirai was thrown out and killed, and her husband was injured.
Yet a senior MDC source claims that the CIO guards did not get out to help, and that when a local white farmer arrived and filmed the scene, he was arrested and his pictures confiscated.Yet a senior MDC source claims that the CIO guards did not get out to help, and that when a local white farmer arrived and filmed the scene, he was arrested and his pictures confiscated.
If the MDC can show that it was not an accident, then it stands to gain hugely in political terms, our correspondent says. The MDC stands to gain hugely in political terms, our correspondent says, if it can prove that it was all a deliberate attempt to kill Mr Tsvangirai soon after he had entered the power-sharing agreement, something which Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party seems to regard as a potential threat to its position.
But the movement's leaders point out that least two politicians in Zimbabwe have died in highly suspicious road accidents in the past, he adds. But the MDC officials pointed out that the apparently deliberate deaths of senior politicians who have been seen as a threat to the Zanu-PF leadership are nothing new.
At least two have died in highly suspicious road accidents in the past.