Herald pulls the plug on Mujuru story

News — By admin on August 21, 2011 9:30 pm

By Lance Guma

The state owned Herald newspaper was on Wednesday evening forced to remove, before publication, a story on the death of retired army General Solomon Mujuru. Sources who spoke to SW Radio Africa claimed editors at the paper were told to bin a story containing important details of what happened on the night Mujuru died in a farm house fire. 

A senior editor at the Herald said journalists at the paper were amongst the first to arrive at the farm, which is 60 km outside Harare. They conducted several interviews and were told that a gun belonging to Mujuru was missing and so were the keys to the house. They argued that the keys could not have melted in the fire.

Those interviewed also claimed the house is connected directly to a ZESA grid and they found it strange that there was no electricity on that night (in fact it seems the whole day). But the most significant witness statement was that on the night of the fire a male visitor was seen heading towards Mujuru’s house at around 10pm.

These details were allegedly removed from the Herald story and instead the paper ran a plea from Mujuru’s wife and Vice President Joice Mujuru, appealing for calm. The story entitled “Solomon Mujuru death: Wife speaks” quoted Mrs. Mujuru discouraging people from wild speculation that they could not back up with facts.

Speaking to mourners Mujuru also said: “I appeal to you to avoid too much history, and talking bad things and listen to good things. We agreed with Solomon every time that even if we hear anything coming from anywhere, we won’t comment whether it’s a lie or not. Only one person (God) will comment, good or bad.”

Tensions are reportedly running high within ZANU PF, with members from the two main Mujuru and Emmerson Mnangagwa factions pointing fingers at each other. This was clearly visible when hundreds of ZANU PF youths marched to the Mujuru house in Chisipite, demanding answers about the death.

Jim Kunaka, the Harare leader of ZANU PF’s youth wing, reportedly said: “As youths we want to get to the bottom of it and find out whether it was a normal death; an electrical fault or whether it was the work of enemies.”

Police claim preliminary investigations suggest the fire was caused by a candle left burning in the house. By late Thursday they had interviewed four witnesses, with spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena saying they are collecting all the relevant evidence. It’s reported all the security agencies, including the police forensic unit, and Zesa Holdings who provide electricity, are part of the investigation.

Displaced commercial farmer Guy Watson-Smith, kicked out of the farm by Mujuru in 2001, added to the intense speculation by saying the roof of the house “makes it absolutely fire-proof, and the walls were brick and cement.”

“All that could have burned was roofing timbers and ceilings, and to imagine the fire spreading quickly without help is hard to do. Finally there were more doors and windows than holes in a colander. Our main bedroom alone had 3 doors out of it and 4 double windows. How do you get trapped inside that?” he asked.

But Robert Mugabe’s spokesman George Charamba said Watson-Smith was trying to “fish in troubled waters”.  

“There is this harebrained theory of a ‘fireproof’ house. What is a ‘fireproof’ house? Where is a ‘fireproof’ house? Not even Buckingham Palace (in England) is fireproof!” Charamba said. 

“Not even the church is fireproof! This theory is being peddled by a white man whose farm was occupied by General Mujuru. He took the General to court and now wants to redeem him? It is clear the white man wants to fish in troubled waters.” 

Mujuru was buried at the National Heroes’ Acre in Harare on Saturday where Mugabe also insisted that his death was accidental. SW Radio Africa/Other agencies

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