Police launch second probe into Mujuru death

By Xolisani Ncube/ Nkululeko Sibanda   

HARARE – Police have launched a second round of investigations into the death of retired army general Solomon Mujuru amid strong suspicions that he could have died before a fire that gutted his Beatrice farm house.
 
This comes as Mishrod Guvamombe, Harare’s chief magistrate, and police commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri have confirmed that the police have approached the courts for an inquest into Mujuru’s death.

“We can confirm that notification of death was made by the police to the Magistrate in compliance with section 5 of the Inquest Act Chapter 7:0,7, which provides as follows: (the police officer, shall without any delay, report to a magistrate, in detail, the circumstances of the case, in order that the magistrate may take such further steps, if any, as may be needful, either to ascertain the cause of death or bring to justice such person or persons as appear to have unlawfully caused such death,” he said in written responses earlier this week.

In the meantime, government insiders said the new probe will centre on establishing the human hand or element in Mujuru’s death. The late general, undoubtedly one of the country’s most decorated liberation war heroes, died in what many believe are suspicious circumstances and that there was a hidden hand in the late Zanu PF stalwart’s death.

“The primary investigations did not help much as they left more questions than answers as to how Mujuru died,” said a police source. “This time around, we are focusing on ascertaining what really killed the general because the perception from the investigating team is that something else besides the fire could have happened,” the source added.

The new round of investigations also comes as there is a feeling that out of the 23 recorded statements, most of them have been conflicting, thus triggering further inquiries. Those quizzed in the earlier probe include farm workers, police who were manning his farm and other security personnel.

“We will focus on establishing whether he died before the fire breakout or was killed by the inferno,” said the source. Mujuru was burnt beyond recognition at his Beatrice Farm in August.

People close to the investigating team, which comprises the police forensic unit, Central Intelligence Organisation department and other security chiefs, told this paper that the fresh probe would also seek to determine whether Mujuru died before the fire.

“We are now focusing on what really happened and this includes an attempt to ascertain who could have been behind the demise of Mujuru. There is a lot of anxiety as to what really happened,” added the source.

Mujuru’s widow Vice President Joice Mujuru was among the first individuals to query how a well-trained war hero like Mujuru would have died in such circumstances and given his war-time skills and training. She hinted to a Mighty Warriors squad, which was paying condolences at her Chisipite home two months ago that the death was suspicious.

“What is surprising is that we don’t know what happened from 8:30 to when the fire was seen. There are two long windows (from my side and his side, and) you don’t have to jump out, but just lift your leg. Our grandchildren used to play getting in and outside the windows and it would have been difficult for a military man not to have made it out,” she said then.

“The (bedroom) set-up had two western big windows, so if you want to come out you just jump. Our kids used to jump and we used to laugh about it. It was closer to come out through the window than the door,” she added.

However, police spokesperson Oliver Mandipaka said he was unaware of any new investigations or developments in the case and he stuck to the old hymn or story that they are waiting for the inquest.

“The highest office in the police force gave a statement on this issue and nothing has changed. For us, the matter is now with the courts and that’s it,” he said. From Guvamombe’s response, though, the court only acknowledges the notice of death and says a full inquiry will only be conducted in terms of Section Six of the same Act, which says they shall only act upon receipt of a detailed report from the police.

“The (original) report was somewhat hazy and did not have specific details about what happened. That is why even the Mujuru family had to seek external investigators. In comparison, the foreign investigator’s report is probably way ahead of the local report,” said the source.

“It is difficult for a magistrate to independently conclude on the way forward. That is why the police have been asked to conduct further investigations,” they added. Daily News