U.S.-Tied Truck Hit Zimbabwe PM’s Car
EmailABC News’ Kirit Radia reports:
The truck that hit Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s car today belonged to a contractor working for the U.S. and British governments, ABC News has learned from three sources.
The truck hit a pothole in the road, causing it to swerve into oncoming traffic where it sideswiped Tsvangirai’s vehicle.
Tsvangirai’s car overturned several times.
The prime minister escaped with only minor injuries, but his wife later died of injuries sustained in the accident.
U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the vehicle was owned by the contractor, but 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 truck is said to have been on a routine delivery route at the time of the accident.
According to officials, USAID has been informed that the truck was impounded and its driver has been detained.
Earlier today, some speculated foul play may have been responsible for the accident, given Tsvangirai’s intense political rivalry with President Robert Mugabe. In recent weeks, other top officials in Tsvangirai’s party have been involved in car crashes.
There has been no word yet on whether this driver may have targeted Tsvangirai’s vehicle, but the revelation of the American-affiliated truck may provide fodder for President Mugabe, who just reluctantly formed a coalition government after urging from other countries. Mugabe may conveniently use this to accuse the West of attempting to take his prime minister’s life.
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How does that country even survive?
Shouldn’t be too arrogant though considering how this one’s going…
Posted by: RR GOP | March 6, 2009, 8:30 pm 8:30 pm
Mugabe should send a “thank you” card to Brown and Obama! He will use this incident to show how the “neo-colonial imperialists” are “meddling” in African affairs. Of course, I would’t put it out of the realm of possibility that, somehow, this tragic event was orchestrated. In any event, Mugabe will likely run with this one: out of Africa colonial imperialists!!
Posted by: Albert | March 6, 2009, 9:18 pm 9:18 pm
Well…how convenient (in a very sarcastic voice).
Posted by: Andrew | March 6, 2009, 9:48 pm 9:48 pm
Its great that ABC isn’t reporting about the border war going on at the Mexican border. I know ABC doesn’t want anyone to know about it.
Posted by: Bob | March 6, 2009, 9:51 pm 9:51 pm
Damn those CIA Trucks…….they have a bad driving record all over the world…
Posted by: gatornation1957 | March 6, 2009, 9:56 pm 9:56 pm
Given how the Obama Administration is molding the US economy into a Zimbabwe model economy, its likely the US orchestrated this to get Mugbe’s help on the fine details.
Posted by: Tyrone | March 6, 2009, 10:54 pm 10:54 pm
No doubt it was a secret CIA mission to prevent Tsvangirai from releasing Obama’s Zimbabwean BIRTH CERTIFICATE!!!
Vince Foster was driving the truck!!!!
LOLOLOLOLOLOL
Posted by: R Mutt | March 6, 2009, 11:16 pm 11:16 pm
Jack Bauer (24 Hrs sitcom) must have fell asleep
at the wheel.
Posted by: spacerook1 | March 6, 2009, 11:16 pm 11:16 pm
Troublesome U.S. General George Patton was killed at the end of WWII when an army truck plowed into his army staff car.
Posted by: amer_icon | March 6, 2009, 11:58 pm 11:58 pm
Sounds like a conspiracy to me O.o
Posted by: Charles Gibson | March 7, 2009, 12:08 am 12:08 am
Hit a pothole causing him to swerve?? Their roads are probably more like the moon surface. Nothing but potholes.
Posted by: Bedrock | March 7, 2009, 12:27 am 12:27 am
It’s Bush’s fault…
Posted by: jchilman | March 7, 2009, 12:49 am 12:49 am
My thoughts and prayers are with their family.
Posted by: MNmom1980 | March 7, 2009, 1:05 am 1:05 am
They need to investigate the accident closely. This may be just accident, but we will not know until they look into it.
Posted by: TXMLMOORE | March 7, 2009, 1:06 am 1:06 am
so now the whole world is supposed to play dumb and believe this cruelty. Off course Mugabe was behind this …. no amount of random chance in probabilistic modelling can account for the fact that his car, out of four would be the one to be struck in such a way. Give me a break …. stop covering for the cruel, power monger.
Posted by: Weini | March 7, 2009, 1:11 am 1:11 am
Underdeveloped countries with bad roads make for more dangerous driving conditions. It is terrible because many people have died and been injured because of bad roads in poor countries. It is just that it’s not enough for the news, not enough drama; the media does not give the trouble with bad roads as much attention. More media attention is given to those who are famous who crash because of bad roads than those who are not famous.
Posted by: Jerry Rosen | March 7, 2009, 1:44 am 1:44 am
I think for the accident to be approved that it was a real accident a foreign independent organization must investigate the issue coz we can’t aford to loose our prime minister as he is our last hope who gona take us out of exile
Posted by: Cornelius | March 7, 2009, 4:40 am 4:40 am
For those who posted negative comments on this post, you all are a bunch of idiots. Someone lost their life in this accident. I wonder if ya would feel the same way if it was one of your family members involved in the accident.
Posted by: serenity | March 7, 2009, 5:39 am 5:39 am
Given a couple more years … you can change some names and the US will look just like that … just.like.that.
Posted by: beebop | March 7, 2009, 7:39 am 7:39 am
This has seemed suspicious to me from the start. Does anyone really believe that Mugabe would not try to take out the opposition leader? Using a USAID truck not only deflects blame from your crime, it fits a well trod narrative of demonizing the West for your own total destruction of what was once a thriving nation.
Posted by: bct | March 7, 2009, 7:49 am 7:49 am
It is sad that people go for conspiracy theories as opposed to just accepting that it was a tragic ACCIDENT. My parents who happen to drive this same stretch of road have said they can say how this can happen. The roads are bad in most of Zimbabwe. I am sure though that the conspiracy nuts will find a way to link a US truck with a British paid driver to the person who is so adored by both these countries to having orchestrated this. People it was an accident.. Sadly she is not the first to die on this stretch of road and she surely will not be the last……
Posted by: Dadirai | March 7, 2009, 8:15 am 8:15 am
why no mention of the nationality of the driver?
Posted by: Madeleine | March 7, 2009, 8:52 am 8:52 am
The truck driver was listening to Rush.
Posted by: George | March 7, 2009, 9:50 am 9:50 am
I was thinking the same thing Madeleine.
Posted by: Eric in PA | March 7, 2009, 9:56 am 9:56 am
I do not believe the nationality of the driver would make a difference… Multiple accidents have happened on this stretch of road but just not of international acclaim. I think people are reaching for there to be a conspiracy theory…….
Posted by: Dadirai | March 7, 2009, 10:08 am 10:08 am
I know, let’s somehow twist the whole story to point our finger at Bush . . . again.
Posted by: Dem Whiners | March 7, 2009, 10:23 am 10:23 am
well actually I meant Mugabe but I guess he would be the equivalent to Bush when it comes to being the face of evil….
Posted by: Dadirai | March 7, 2009, 10:27 am 10:27 am
Okay…This is what the guy always feared. Now it has happened. It’s payback time!
Posted by: godofredo29 | March 7, 2009, 10:35 am 10:35 am
I wonder what Mugabe gains from killing Tsvangirai’s wife and not Tsvangirai himself?
Posted by: Dadirai | March 7, 2009, 10:49 am 10:49 am
Any one who thinks that Mugabe can be trusted to act in the best interest of democracy or his countrymen needs to get their head examined. Zimbabwe can truly start earning the co-operation of thw world when Mugabe is no more in charge.
Posted by: gjkotw01 | March 7, 2009, 10:52 am 10:52 am
Does USAID come under the state Department and not the CIA?
Posted by: gjkotw01 | March 7, 2009, 11:35 am 11:35 am
Better off Rhodesia?
Posted by: realdeal | March 7, 2009, 11:48 am 11:48 am
I thought it was weird ABC Nightly News didn’t mention his wife was killed, even though this story came out yesterday afternoon on the website, and said as much.
Posted by: Turd Ferg | March 7, 2009, 11:57 am 11:57 am
Realdeal I guess you think the world was better off during slavery and all other social injustices…..
Posted by: Dadirai | March 7, 2009, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm
Accidents happen, but this area, not to mention the local culture strongly believes in conspiracy theories. In a few hours there will be anti-US protests despite all we do as a country to help them against their dictator.
Posted by: Chip | March 7, 2009, 1:44 pm 1:44 pm
Amazing how the propaganda machines were all set to play this as a conspiricy theory. When it turns out that the perp was owned and operated by US and Britain, the media begins reverse spin about it being an act of God. Peace be with the Prime Minister and his family.
Posted by: Richard Pendergast | March 7, 2009, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm
Is there such a thing as a conspiracy theory when it comes to Mugabe?
The years of violence and murder toward anyone who opposes him speak for themselves, as does his treatment of his own nation and it’s citizens, many of whom were forced to flee the country in fear of their lives, often with nothing but the clothes on their back.
Tsvangirai was forced on Mugabe and he agreed to it to stop a deeper probe from the countries that were putting the pressure on and to maintain his own foothold. How convenient a tragic accident that got rid of his opposition would be. The driver will probably be strung up for failing to do the job properly.
Posted by: Gnome | March 7, 2009, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
The US and Britain tried to kill Tsvangirai because they funded him to challenge Mugabe and now he’s joined Mugabe govt and called yesterday for tyhe lifting of unhuman economic sanctions against Zimbabwe. Mugabe has no reason to kill him as they’re now on the same side, pitted against foreign devils who wish to steal Zimbabwean land and resources – USA and Britain.
Posted by: Obi | March 7, 2009, 5:53 pm 5:53 pm
It is all Bush’s fault.
Posted by: Dennis | March 8, 2009, 1:37 am 1:37 am
figures — it’s got to be America’s fault — but remember — we use parts from all over the world to make our vehicles — does that still make it our fault??
Posted by: da viking | March 12, 2009, 3:03 pm 3:03 pm
Tsvangirai went around clamouring for Mugabe’s demise. Now the real God has spoken. Whilst i sympathise from a humane point of view, politically Tsvangirai deserves all he gets-he’s evil.Calling for sanctions on an entire population so he gets into power.
Posted by: Tobaiwa | March 12, 2009, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm
my prayers go out to the prime minister
and his family.
Posted by: munya | March 12, 2009, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
sad to see people making fun of a tragedy!
Posted by: dusty | March 13, 2009, 7:33 am 7:33 am
Problem is, people like stories and they could not stand it being so short when Tsvangiraisaid it was a genuine accident. instead you looked around and saw the US could be a good main character to sell the story since Tsvangirai and Mugabe couldnt be split on it.Mugabe for your own info: he cant afford to o lose Tsvangirai because he is his only hope of retiring safely without threat of prosecution within 24hrs of him off the presidency
Posted by: col | March 14, 2009, 12:47 pm 12:47 pm