A PERSONAL AND POLITICAL TRAGEDY!

By Peter Biles BBC News, South Africa

The death of Susan Tsvangirai, wife of Zimbabwe's new prime minister, is without doubt a shattering personal blow to Morgan Tsvangirai as well as the couple's family and their close friends in the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Morgan Tsvangirai has ruled out foul play as the cause of the crash

Politically though, it leaves the MDC in considerable disarray, just when the party is trying to consolidate its position in Zimbabwe's new inclusive government that was formed on 13 February.

Only a few days ago, the MDC proudly announced it had launched a new website for Mr Tsvangirai.

This week, the front page of the site www.zimbabweprimeminister.org carries the tragic news of Susan Tsvangirai's death in a car crash. It could hardly have happened at a worse time.

Given the long history of car crashes involving prominent Zimbabwean political figures, there will inevitably be speculation in some quarters that this was more than a road accident.

He'll immerse himself in his work, and that's the one thing that will get him through this Sarah Huddlestone Tsvangirai friend and biographer

Those with long memories in Zimbabwe, still question the death of Josiah Tongogara, the Zanla guerrilla leader who was killed in a car crash in neighbouring Mozambique in December 1979, just after the signing of the Lancaster House agreement that led to Zimbabwe's independence.

At the time, Tongogara had been seen as a possible political rival to Robert Mugabe.

Morgan Tsvangirai has said the crash last week was an accident and he does not suspect foul play.

The MDC has been understandably cautious in its public statements following the death of Mrs Tsvangirai.

The Tsvangirais: Married more than 30 years

"We have to wait for the police report. This is something that we take as an accident until proven otherwise," Nelson Chamisa, the party's spokesman, told SABC Radio in Johannesburg.

"As a party, we are going to proceed with thorough investigations that are independent. This is necessitated by the rife speculation and suspicion in the country," he added.

President Mugabe was among the first to console Mr Tsvangirai on hearing the news of his wife's death.

Mr Mugabe went to the Avenues Clinic in Harare, accompanied by his wife, Grace, and a delegation of senior Zanu-PF ministers.

Even if he was superhuman, this tragedy would negatively affect his ability [to do his job] Welshman Ncube MDC faction, MDC-M

However, the mistrust and animosity between Zanu-PF and the MDC still runs deep, as the country tries to move forward under a power-sharing government.

When Central Bank governor Gideon Gono turned up at the Tsvangirai family home in Harare at the weekend to pay his respects, he had to face a crowd of MDC supporters gathered outside.

They threw trillions of worthless Zimbabwe dollars at him. Mr Gono has managed to retain his position at the bank, in spite of his spectacular mismanagement of the country's economy.

Mr Tsvangirai is no stranger to adversity.

At the hands of President Mugabe's administration, he faced vilification, arrest, beatings and was accused of treason.

The crash came just weeks after Mr Tsvangirai became prime minister

But the personal tragedy of losing his wife will perhaps raise questions about his future as Zimbabwe's newly-appointed prime minister.

Family friend and biographer, Sarah Hudleston, believes Mr Tsvangirai will be able to carry on the fight for a new Zimbabwe.

"Morgan is one of nine children and the family is very close. They'll be a source of comfort to him. He's also dedicated to bringing Zimbabwe back from being a pariah state. He'll immerse himself in his work, and that's the one thing that will get him through this," she says.

It is thought Mr Tsvangirai will suspend all his duties as prime minister for the next fortnight.

Welshman Ncube, the secretary general of the smaller MDC faction (MDC-M), says Prime Minister Tsvangirai remains the key person in the inclusive government, despite the troubled times.

"He has the daunting task of trying to run a government in a country where just about everything has collapsed. You need him at his best, with his undivided attention.

"Even if he was superhuman, this tragedy would negatively affect his ability. It's a severe blow to the capacity of the government to address the myriad challenges we face as a country," he said.
BBC NEWS REPORT.