Mnangagwa in car crash Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Benz which was involved in an accident yesterday. Top, Cde Mnangagwa
Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Benz which was involved in an accident yesterday. Top, Cde Mnangagwa

Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Benz which was involved in an accident yesterday. Top, Cde Mnangagwa

Takunda Maodza Harare Bureau
JUSTICE and Legal Affairs Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa escaped death by a whisker when his Mercedes Benz was rammed on the driver’s side by a staff bus belonging to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals along Herbert Chitepo Avenue in Harare last night.
Minister Mnangagwa, who was driving alone, was not injured and went home after the accident.

The accident, which left the minister’s vehicle severely damaged, occurred at 6.25PM close to the United States Embassy.

The minibus, registration number GHCW 1453, belongs to Parirenyatwa Groups of Hospitals’ Ophthalmic School of Nursing.

A donation from the European Union, the minibus was travelling due west while Minister Mnangagwa was driving towards the easterly direction.

There is no junction where the accident occurred.

Eye witnesses told our Harare Bureau that the driver of the minibus, Muchena Tsikirai, 41, made an instant U-turn and hit Minister Mnangagwa’s vehicle on the right.

The front and rear doors were damaged and the airbags all popped out.

When our Harare Bureau rushed to the accident scene, Minister Mnangagwa’s vehicle was being towed away while the minibus was impounded by police.

Former Zanu-PF legislator for Zvishavane-Ngezi, Cde Larry Mavhima, who was at the scene said: “The minister was driving east along Herbert Chitepo close to the American Embassy. Out of the blue, the kombi, which was going in the opposite direction, decided to turn to the right into the minister’s car.

They collided and caused a severe impact which could have cost the minister’s life. We are very concerned about the driving habits of people that drive public transport. We are concerned about the safety of senior government officials.”

He said Minister Mnangagwa was “fine”.

“The minister is fine, fit and healthy but as a precaution he will be attended to by his doctor but we are more worried about him than he is”, said Cde Mavhima.

He added: “There is no other road here he (Tsikirai) could have been turning into. Whether it was intentional or if he was drunk, the police will find out. There is not even a scratch on the minister. When he left he was in good spirits. We thank God.”

Tsikirai claimed it was Minister Mnangagwa who made a U-turn causing the accident.

In his recorded statement to the police, he said: “I was driving staff bus registration number HCW 1453 along Herbert Chitepo towards the west when a white Mercedes Benz suddenly made a U-turn in front of me. Then as I moved towards the opposite lane of the road so as to avoid it, I crashed into it.”

In an interview with our Harare Bureau, Tsikirai said he was taking his nine months pregnant wife, Jemina Mukozho, 40, to Westend Hospital.

“I was taking my wife to Westend. She is nine months pregnant. I am told she is in a stable condition,” he said.

Tsikirai of Epworth claimed he only knew the Mercedes Benz belonged to Minister Mnangagwa after the accident.

“I only knew it was the minister in the Mercedes Benz when I heard people saying so.”

Tsikirai was not visibly shaken and demanded his licence from traffic police who attended the accident.

Efforts to get a comment from Minister Mnangagwa were fruitless.

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