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Tsvangirai tribute set for Harare | Tsvangirai tribute set for Harare |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Thousands of mourners are expected to turn out in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, for a memorial paying tribute to Susan Tsvangirai, on the eve of her funeral. | Thousands of mourners are expected to turn out in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, for a memorial paying tribute to Susan Tsvangirai, on the eve of her funeral. |
Morgan Tsvangirai's wife died on Friday in a crash in which he was injured. | |
The ceremony for the late mother-of-six is being held at Glamis Stadium, where Mr Tsvangirai spoke last month after being sworn in as prime minister. | |
Earlier, President Robert Mugabe was among hundreds of mourners who packed a Harare church for a funeral service. | |
'Hand of God' | |
Mr Mugabe reportedly made his first public comments on the crash, telling mourners on Tuesday: "I plead with you to accept it, it's the hand of God." | |
Our hearts on this day and the days to follow are with you Robert Mugabe | |
Suspicions have swirled over Mrs Tsvangirai's death given past acrimony between the prime minister and president. | |
But Mr Tsvangirai said on Monday it was unlikely foul play took a part in the crash, which involved an aid lorry. | |
Mr Mugabe, whose supporters were accused of launching deadly attacks on opposition activists during last year's elections, told mourners violence should be a thing of the past. | |
"We are doing our best that we create a conducive environment and tell our supporters that the issue of violence must end," Mr Mugabe said, according to AFP news agency. | |
"Rest assured we are with you, honourable prime minister. Our hearts on this day and the days to follow, we are with you," he added. | |
Most of the cabinet in the new power-sharing administration between Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF and Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) attended the Methodist church service. | |
Mrs Tsvangirai, who was 50 and kept largely away from the political limelight, is to be buried near the couple's rural home in Buhera, Manicaland Province, on Wednesday. | |
'Life goes on' | 'Life goes on' |
The driver of the truck that hit the couple's car has been charged with culpable homicide. | |
Chinoona Mwanda, 35, who was bailed on Monday, is to plead not guilty, blaming the collision on the poor state of the road, his lawyer said. | |
The MDC has urged all Zimbabweans to attend the stadium event, in remembrance of a woman who stood as a pillar of support to her husband for 31 years. | |
Up to 30,000 are expected to heed the call. | Up to 30,000 are expected to heed the call. |
Many mourners have already visited the Tsvangirai family home | |
In spite of his bereavement, Mr Tsvangirai said on Monday "life had to go on". | In spite of his bereavement, Mr Tsvangirai said on Monday "life had to go on". |
The Tsvangirais had been travelling to Buhera when the crash occurred near Beatrice on Friday afternoon. | The Tsvangirais had been travelling to Buhera when the crash occurred near Beatrice on Friday afternoon. |
Mr Mugabe and his wife Grace visited Mr Tsvangirai's bedside hours after the crash as he was treated for minor injuries at a private clinic in the capital. | |
Police have said the lorry crossed into the lane in which the couple's 4x4 was travelling and side-swiped the vehicle, causing it to roll over three times. | Police have said the lorry crossed into the lane in which the couple's 4x4 was travelling and side-swiped the vehicle, causing it to roll over three times. |
The British foreign ministry said the truck was part of an aid project jointly funded by the US and UK and that the crash appeared to be "a genuine accident". | The British foreign ministry said the truck was part of an aid project jointly funded by the US and UK and that the crash appeared to be "a genuine accident". |