Tsvangirai Accident - Driver Fined Just US$200

When news that Morgan Tsvangirai and his wife had been involved in a road accident in Zimbabwe flew around the world in early March this year, we all held our breath for more information. And, when it came, it was the worst possible update.

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Tsvangirai’s wife of over thirty years had perished in the accident.

The official story was that a USAID vehicle had sideswiped their Land Cruiser which had flipped over a number of times.

Susan was killed, whilst Morgan sustained some head injuries. He was rushed to hospital in Harare and was released a day later.

But Zimbabwe was recoiling from the news that their Prime Minister has lost his lifelong mate.

There was much written by columnists the world over - myself included - that the incident was not an accident, even though Tsvangirai himself stated that it was just an accident.

All manner of conspiracies were concocted and all manner of allegations were made. It was a natural progression, seeing as many of Mugabe’s detractors had met their end in questionable circumstances, the easy majority being in road traffic ‘accidents’.

A full culpable homicide trial followed and we expected the driver to be at least jailed for his part in the event that robbed the nation of the quiet support of Susan Tsvangirai.

So, when the trial concluded last week, we were all somewhat nonplussed when the court chose to fine the driver just US$200 and he was permitted to keep his driver’s licence.

This is an affront, not only to the Tsvangirai family, but to all Zimbabweans who would expect at the very least, that justice be done. Quantifying the life of Susan Tsvangirai at just US$200 is an insult. A huge insult.

Yes - the roads are deteriorating in Zimbabwe - and the road surface in the area of the accident (I suppose we have to call it that now) is abominable. But anyone driving a motor vehicle on Zimbabwean roads would know this and should be driving a lot slower than they do.

We are all human and we do make mistakes - but when that mistake costs the life of another, then the legal system must ensure that those that are culpable are punished fittingly as an example to other people to warn them of the consequences of their foibles.

Fining a driver just US$200 for causing the death of another through their negligence is not going to send a warning to other drivers - it is going to set a precedent for future cases against drivers.

And I object to that. Lives of loved ones - whether they are public figures or not - are worth a lot more than US$200. The fine is equivalent to £120 - around about the price of a 22 inch reconditioned TFT monitor!

Is that all life is worth? My life is insured for a lot more than that, and I don’t have the public profile that Susan Tsvangirai had. Surely her life - any life - is worth more than a few pennies?

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Or were the criminal courts more interested in the conviction than the sentence?

And the publicity of the case has been very low key, even though the accident was headline news around the world.

I wonder, if I asked why - would I receive a reply?

Robb WJ Ellis

The Bearded Man