[In the light of the recent poisoning of a student in Zimbabwe, I thought I’d repost some past articles of mine where I wrote about senior people being murdered by Mugabe. In some cases, I think Mugabe knocks off people in his own political party who are either too popular, or whose loyalties are under question. Killing off people in the opposition is nothing more than “business as usual” for Mugabe.

The article below relates to a Black Zimbabwean businessman I happened to meet at my work. Jan]

Originally posted on: 3/6/2002 5:21:34 PML:-
Zimbabwe’s Vice President Dies Suddenly…
This afternoon I was sitting and having a deep political discussion with a Zimbabwean businessman who is on business here in South Africa. It was a most fascinating discussion, which I will report on later.

He did confirm that Muamar Gaddaffi has bought oil companies in Zimbabwe and has a presence and an interest in supporting Mugabe.

While we were talking, his cell phone rang. When he finished, he told me he had just received news that Muzende, the Vice President of Zimbabwe, had just died. He had a stroke a week ago and had died today.

I was curious. A LOT of people close to Mugabe have been dying recently. Two Government Ministers/Officials died in mysterious car accidents in the same month. Then Dr Hunzvi, the leader of the war veterans suddenly died of Cerebral Malaria in the same month. Hunzvi, it was said was becoming more popular than Mugabe and he then died very conveniently.

With regard to the two who died in car accidents. There have long been rumours that motor car accidents caused by brake failures are Mugabe”s way of assassinating people. In his 20 years of rule many senior government officials have died in this way.

The sudden death of Muzende is interesting. I would not say there is any evidence of assassination or poisoning at this time. But it is worth watching the situation to see if Mugabe is busy knocking out people who may threaten him – it is a possibility one must never totally exclude.
Jan

Here is another poisoning news item. This relates to the poisoning of an MDC official:-
Harare – A top opposition official who was found dead in a Zimbabwe prison last month died of chloroquine poisoning in what authorities said was probably suicide, state television said on Thursday. The announcement of the cause of death of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) spokesperson Learnmore Jongwe had been eagerly awaited here. The opposition has said it holds the government responsible for his death. Police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena told state television the government pathologist indicated “that the cause of death was chloroquine poisoning, or shock”. “Chloroquine use is quite prevalent in suicide cases and we would like to suspect that this could be the case.” Chloroquine is used here to treat malaria. It was not immediately clear where he got the drug from. Jongwe had been held in remand prison in Harare since he allegedly murdered his wife in a domestic dispute in July. The findings of an independent pathologist”s examination are still to be released but police said they are “not interested in his results”, ZBC said.

Source: News24 (SA)
Published: Thu 7-Nov-2002
URL: http://www.zwnews.com/issuefull.cfm?ArticleID…br>

I am also reposting another news item from last year, which also mentions poisoning. This was originally posted on: 2/5/2004 5:21:12 AM:-
This is a lawless country where even Members of Parliament are intimidated and killed. How can this country possibly come right? Jan

Harare – A member of parliament from Zimbabwe”s main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, David Mpala, has died from apparent torture wounds, his party announced on Wednesday. MDC spokesperson Paul Themba Nyathi said the lawmaker from the western Lupane constituency died on Tuesday, aged 48, at a hospital in his home area. “A retired member of the police, Mpala”s health deteriorated over the past year after being tortured and stabbed by Zanu PF supporters,” said Nyathi in a statement. Nyathi alleged that, while campaigning for the Lupane parliamentary seat in April 2000, Mpala was abducted and severely beaten by a group of about 40 ruling Zanu PF supporters. In January 2002 he was abducted by another group of 20 alleged Zanu PF supporters from a shopping centre in Lupane and dragged to a bush where he was brutally assaulted and stabbed in the chest, back and stomach. “He never fully recovered from these injuries and his health deteriorated until his sad death yesterday,” said Nyathi. “We mourn this hero of the struggle for peace and justice in Zimbabwe. His death will inspire us to fight harder to fulfil his dreams, as we know that the darkest hour comes before dawn,” he said.

His death brings the number of MDC legislators who have died since the 2000 parliamentary elections to five. Some have died of natural illnesses, while one died of suspected poisoning while in police custody awaiting trial for the murder of his wife. Two other legislators have since resigned: Mike Auret on medical grounds and Tafadzwa Musekiwa who sought political asylum in Britain saying he feared for his life. Of the by-elections held so far, the MDC has won some and lost others, leaving it with 53 out of the 150 seats in parliament. The run-up to both the 2000 parliamentary elections and the 2002 presidential election were characterised by violence. MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai is legally challenging the presidential election victory by President Robert Mugabe, citing intimidation, violence and uneven electoral field.

Source: Mail & Guardian (SA)
URL: http://www.zwnews.com/issuefull.cfm?ArticleID…/p>