KEY POINTS
- A cyclist died after being hit by Valentine Zinhumwe’s car.
- Villagers claim the CCC candidate tried to flee the scene.
- Police are investigating, and Zinhumwe denies the allegations.
A cyclist was allegedly killed in a road collision involving Valentine Zinhumwe, a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) candidate who recently lost the campaign for the Hwedza South district. The event happened on Wednesday in Rapako Village 1, which is in the constituency of Hwedza South.
Cyclist dies after crash involving CCC candidate
According to reports, Zinhumwe was operating a car0 when it collided with the cyclist, Innocent Chitongo.
Chitongo was seriously hurt in the collision and taken to Mount St. Mary’s Hospital. Sadly, Chitongo passed away from his wounds not long after getting to the hospital. Since then, funeral plans have been finalized, and Chitongo will be laid to rest on Thursday.
Controversy has been raised by the accident’s circumstances.
According to local sources, Zinhumwe first tried to leave the scene of the collision, which raised the possibility of a hit-and-run. But according to witnesses, people stepped in and stopped him from leaving the area. The investigation is now more complicated as a result of these assertions.
Police say investigation is ongoing, details still emerging
Zinhumwe acknowledged his role in the collision in reaction to the accusations, but he denied any misconduct or trying to escape. He stated that authorities are investigating the event and will not speak further.
“Police are presently looking into the situation. Those accusations are vicious and untrue. Zinhumwe made a quick remark to the media, saying, “I will refer you to my lawyer for any further comment.”
Commissioner Paul Nyathi, a spokesman for the Zimbabwe Republic Police, said he has not yet received an official report on the situation. Nyathi stated, “We are awaiting a detailed account of the incident,” refusing to elaborate until after more investigations are finished.
Because of Zinhumwe’s political profile as a CCC member, the incident has received a lot of attention. In recent months, the party, which is well-known for opposing the government ZANU-PF, has been under increased scrutiny.
Though it’s unknown if the tragedy will impact Zinhumwe’s future in the party or his public image, his role in the fatal disaster could have political ramifications.
According to newsday, there are still unanswered concerns regarding the circumstances behind the incident as authorities continue their investigations. According to reports, villagers who saw the accident have demanded openness in the inquiry, highlighting the necessity of justice and accountability for Chitongo’s family.
The incident has brought attention to more general issues with transportation safety and how accidents are handled in rural Zimbabwe, where emergency response services and infrastructure are frequently scarce.
