Acting Prime Minister appointed in Zim

Monday, March 16, 2009

Harare - MDC Deputy President Thokozani Khupe has assumed the Acting Prime Minister's post in the absence of Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai who is still mourning his wife who died in a car crash two weeks ago.

A senior official in the Prime Minister's office, who wanted to remain anonymous, said Ms Khupe, who is one of the two deputy prime ministers in the unity government, will hold the fort until Mr Tsvangirai returns to work.

"Ms Khupe is currently the Acting Prime Minister until the Prime Minister who is mourning his wife in Buhera returns to work.

"We are not sure when the Prime Minister is returning to work, but it could be as early as next week," the official said.

Mr Tsvangirai and his wife were travelling from Harare to Buhera where he was due to attend a rally. His car was hit by a truck which crossed into the oncoming lane and side-swiped his vehicle, causing it to roll several times, police said.

Britain has confirmed that the truck was owned by a joint Unites States-British aid project that delivers HIV and AIDS drugs.

Ms Tsvangirai died at the scene of the accident.

She was reportedly flung out of the car as it rolled over and landed on top of her. Rescuers found her 15 metres from the wrecked vehicle, fatally wounded with serious internal injuries and fractures to both legs.

She was rushed to Beatrice Hospital where she was confirmed dead on arrival.