Zimbabwean minister said to have been poisoned dies

HARARE: A Zimbabwean minister, who last year spent a lengthy period in hospital after reportedly being poisoned at a Zanu-PF conference, has died.

Shuvai Ben Mahofa, who was Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister, died in the early hours of yesterday morning after being hospitalised at the weekend.

Zimbabwe Information Minister Christopher Mushohwe confirmed the development, saying Mahofa collapsed and was rushed to a hospital, where she died.

“Minister Mahofa collapsed and was rushed to Makurira Hospital, where she died at around 4am,” Mushohwe was quoted as saying by state media. Mahofa, who was 76, had been ill for quite some time after being reportedly poisoned at a Zanu-PF conference in Victoria Falls in December 2015.

After the suspected poisoning, she was admitted to a South African hospital.

She was appointed to the post in February 2015, replacing Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, who had been relieved of his duties after being accused of displaying conduct inconsistent with his prescribed duties and functions.

Mahofa’s death comes hard on the heels of another suspected poisoning case in the ruling party, where Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa left a Zanu-PF rally venue in a huff at the weekend, as his boss, President Robert Mugabe, was addressing the gathering in Gwanda, a small town about 460km south of Harare.

Mnangagwa is said to have started “vomiting blood” a few minutes after Mugabe had started speaking. A long-time ally of Mugabe, Mnangagwa left in an ambulance and was taken to Gwanda Hospital.

He was later flown to a military base in Gweru, where he was attended to. Reports said he was flown to South Africa for medical attention on Sunday morning after his health had “further deteriorated”.

He was said to have left at 10.20am from Manyame Air Base in the capital, Harare, on his way to Lanseria Airport in Johannesburg.

He was taken ill after he reportedly complained of feeling dizzy following a fruit juice he had had during the rally. – ANA