ZIMBABWE PM 'SEEKS BOTSWANA CARE'

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai lost his wife of 30 years in Friday's crash

Zimbabwean PM Morgan Tsvangirai is said to be going to neighbouring Botswana for medical tests and rest, a day after a car crash which killed his wife.

A source close to Mr Tsvangirai told the BBC he was exhausted and needed time to come to terms with events.

His MDC party says it will carry out its own inquiry into the cause of the crash. But officials have said nothing to suggest they suspect foul play.

Mr Tsvangirai has previously spent time in Botswana while in opposition.

He returned from Botswana to Zimbabwe on 17 January this year, having spent much of the previous two months away.

Mr Tsvangirai, 56, left the Harare clinic where he was treated for injuries sustained in the crash on Saturday afternoon.

State TV reported that the prime minister had suffered some injuries to his head and neck.

Mr Tsvangirai was on his way to his rural home in Buhera, where he planned to hold a weekend rally, when the crash occurred near Beatrice at about 1600 local time (1400 GMT) on Friday.

It is thought that a lorry carrying freight crossed into the lane in which the prime minister's 4x4 was travelling and side-swiped the vehicle, causing it to roll over three times.

US embassy officials say the lorry belonged to a partner organisation of the US government aid agency USAID.

Mr Tsvangirai and his wife Susan, 50, who married in 1978, had six children.

The crash came just two days after Mr Tsvangirai delivered his maiden speech to parliament after being sworn in as prime minister in Zimbabwe's power-sharing government.

He was visited in hospital by his political rival President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace.

But relations between the MDC and Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party remain tense, with MDC ministerial nominee Roy Bennett still in custody, accused of links to an alleged plot to kill Mr Mugabe.
BBC NEWS REPORT.