Beitbridge Correspondent
Valentine Zinhumwe, a losing candidate for the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) in the Hwedza South constituency, was involved in a tragic accident that resulted in the death of a cyclist, Innocent Chitongo.
The incident occurred on Wednesday at Rapako village 1.
Reports indicate that Zinhumwe was driving the vehicle that struck Chitongo, who later succumbed to his injuries at Mt St Mary’s Hospital.
Following the accident, there were allegations that Zinhumwe attempted to flee the scene, leading to claims of a hit-and-run.
However, villagers reportedly prevented him from leaving. Zinhumwe confirmed the accident and stated that it is under police investigation, dismissing the allegations against him as “false and malicious” and referring further inquiries to his lawyer.
The national police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, mentioned that he had not yet received a report on the incident.
Political Tensions at Funeral
In a separate incident, Beitbridge Senator Tambudzani Mohadi from Zanu PF and Sithabisiwe Mulowa, a CCC lawmaker, were involved in a heated exchange at the funeral of Blessing Choeni, a CCC activist who passed away recently. The confrontation occurred at a VIP tent where mourners had gathered to pay their respects.
Mulowa praised Choeni for his contributions to the CCC, stating he was a “powerful hand” in their local government victories. However, tensions flared when Mohadi accused Mulowa of attempting to embarrass Zanu PF during the condolences. The verbal altercation drew the attention of other mourners, highlighting the ongoing political rivalry between the two parties.
As the funeral procession moved to Tshibhidzanani village, Zanu PF members took control of the proceedings, sidelining CCC officials.
This incident underscores the contentious political atmosphere in the region, particularly surrounding influential figures like Choeni, who had a complex political history and left behind a large family.
Zim GBC News©2024