Zimbabwe: Minister Survives Car Crash

JUSTICE Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday evening escaped death by a whisker after a Mercedes Benz he was driving was involved in an accident with a vehicle owned by Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. Witnesses said the minister was driving along Hebert Chitepo Avenue heading towards the east when the other vehicle, which was travelling in the opposite direction, made a sudden turn, encroaching into the right hand lane, resulting in the impact with the minister's car. Both right side doors on the minister’s vehicle were extensively damaged while the other vehicle sustained minor frontal damages. The incident, which happened between 7 and 8PM, occurred close to the American embassy in Harare's Avenues area.

When NewZimbabwe.com arrived at the scene, minutes after the accident, Mnangagwa, who had been driving alone, had been whisked away by his aides. His condition could not be immediately established although Zanu PF deputy chair for Midlands Larry Mavima, who had arrived at the scene, said he was in good shape. "He was alone. His security aides had been dispatched home. He was driving home," Mavima said. "The minister was driving home going east using the normal speed, normal traffic hours and out of the blue, a kombi belonging to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals which was driving in the opposite direction all of a sudden made a right turn into the minister's car. "There is no other road that he could have been turning into so we are a bit concerned by that kind of behaviour. “Whether it was intentional or whether he was drunk l am sure the police will have to find out what was the reason for him to make such a sudden turn and at such high speed, extremely high speed, targeting the minister's car." Mavima, a former Zanu PF legislator and Mnangagwa ally, said Mnangagwa was in good shape when he left the scene. "The minister is fine; not even a scratch on him. We thank God, the Man upstairs looked after him but he will be okay. Naturally under such circumstances, he will get checked out by the doctors. "When he left he was in very good spirits, he was in fact more worried about us than himself." An eye witness who saw the incident happen said Mnangagwa was pulled out of the wrecked car by what he believed were his aides who were driving close to his car. "He looked fine. I actually spoke to him and the next thing he was immediately on his phone," he said.