Sanday Chongo Kabange, AfricaNews reporter in Lusaka, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe's Finance Minister Tendai Biti escaped death after the vehicle he was travelling in collided with a lorry truck west of the capital Harare. MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said Biti's car collided with a lorry about 100km west of Harare in Chegutu and that Police are investigating the accident.
According to the iol.co.za news website Biti doubles as Finance Minister in Zimbabwe's power-sharing government and Secretary General of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was left with injuries.
He is receiving treatment at the Avenues Clinic in Harare. His driver also miraculously escaped with minor injuries but the vehicle is now a complete wreck.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was said to have been shaken by the accident. His spokesperson James Maridadi confirmed the accident and said Biti was out of danger.
"Because of the severity of the accident, Minister Biti has to undergo medical procedures where he has to be detained to ascertain the extent of the injuries. The injuries are not life threatening but we have to take all the precautionary measures," said Maridadi.
Biti who was travelling in a Toyota Vigo double cab was on his way from the small farming town when the haulage truck approaching from the opposite direction, side swiped his vehicle.
Instead of stopping, the haulage truck driver is reported to have proceeded to his company headquarters in Chegutu less than 10 kilometres from the scene where he alerted his bosses who immediately took him to the police.
Zimbabwe's roads are notoriously dangerous and accidents are common. About a week ago, legendary African music icon, Oliver Mtukudzi’s son Sam died in a road accident while in March last year Tsvangarai's wife, Susan, was killed in a car crash after her vehicle crashed into a lorry.
Zimbabwe's Finance Minister Tendai Biti escaped death after the vehicle he was travelling in collided with a lorry truck west of the capital Harare. MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said Biti's car collided with a lorry about 100km west of Harare in Chegutu and that Police are investigating the accident.
