Police question 23 over ex-Zimbabwe army boss’ death

HARARE

Zimbabwean police say they have questioned 23 people including three policemen in connection with the death of former Zimbabwe army commander General Solomon Mujuru last week.

Gen Mujuru who was married to Zimbabwe’s Vice President Joice Mujuru died after fire gutted his farm house near Harare on Tuesday.

He was buried at the country’s national shrine in Harare at the weekend amid intensifying rumours that he was murdered by opponents in President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party.

State media on Tuesday, quoting unnamed sources said the three policemen quizzed in the probe were guarding Gen Mujuru’s property on the night of the fire.

Others were people who were at places where the former commander of one of Zimbabwe’s liberation movements led by President Mugabe passed through on his way home.

He reportedly spent some time drinking at a motel before leaving for his farm in the evening.

“We have recorded statements from various individuals who could be witnesses and the police officers could be among those,” police spokesman Assistant Commission Wayne Bvudzijena told the Herald newspaper.

But he refused to divulge the number of people they had interviewed so far or if there were any leads in the case.

Police said preliminary indications suggested that the fire could have been caused by a fire left burning in the house.