John Makumbe’s daughter dies in car crash, widow in ICU

Rumbidzai Makumbe, the daughter of the late leading academic Professor John Makumbe, died in a car accident on Tuesday around 5 pm near Chivhu. 

Nehanda Radio also understands her mother is critically injured and admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of the Avenues Clinic in Harare. She suffered injuries to her arms and chest area.

Rumbidzai who was a few months pregnant and husband Hillary were part of a two-car convoy travelling to Buhera. That holiday would have seen them also go to the Matopos in the Matabeleland Province.

Details of the accident remain sketchy but we understand a car travelling in the opposite direction forced the car being driven by Rumbidzai’s husband to swerve, overturn and throw her out.

Speaking to Nehanda Radio on Thursday, close family friend and MDC-T national Organising Secretary Nelson Chamisa, confirmed Rumbidzai’s death and said she will be buried at Glen Forest on Saturday in Harare. Chamisa will be cutting short his holiday in his own rural home to attend the burial in Harare.

Makumbe a leading political scientist died of a heart attack in January this year just a few months before his daughter’s wedding.