Midzi ‘suicide’ rocks Zanu PF

HARARE – The family members of Amos Midzi, a top ally of former vice president Joice Mujuru suspected to have committed suicide yesterday, have said they cannot rule out  foul play.Midzi, 62, a former minister of Mines was found dead in his car near his farm house yesterday, a week after being suspended from President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF for allegedly plotting against the nonagenarian.Villagers found the body of Midzi, the former Zanu PF Harare provincial chairman in his vehicle at his farm in Marirangwe near Harare.

The politician was in the backseat of his SUV, with legs stretched between the front seats.

Some blue sleeping pills were found in the vehicle.

Family spokesperson Stanley Midzi said they did not know whether he took the drugs under duress or it was out of his own free will.

“He did not leave a suicide note,” the younger Midzi told the Daily News.

Stanley said only the post mortem will reveal whether there were other drugs in his system or he had bodily injuries.

Another family member, who declined to be named, said based on findings at the scene, the conclusion can be drawn that the most likely cause of death was a crime.

Stanley, however, said he was aware that his brother was suffering sleeping disorders. He said the disorder started after Midzi was unceremoniously ostracised from Zanu PF.

“You know how the politics of the party have been going on and how he was booted out,” he said.

“For someone who had a passion for politics and someone who started politics in high school at Fletcher High School in Gweru, politics was his life and I know that he was deeply hurt with everything that happened to him.”

Stanley narrated to the Daily News how the family got to find his body after his wife, Alice, had made numerous inquiries over his whereabouts.

He said their nephew, Joel, advised them about the death.

Stanley said the farm manager called Joel in the wee hours of the morning telling him to come to the farm immediately because Midzi’s body had been spotted in the car.

When they failed to open the locked doors of his car, they smashed the windows to gain access. The car keys were initially missing, but police claim they were later found under a mat in the vehicle.

The family spokesperson said it was suspected Midzi drunk a mixture of 500 millilitres of tamaron pesticide and five midazolam tablets.

“The initial picture we have is that he committed suicide,” the distraught brother said.

“The two drugs he took are midazolam which is a sedating drug normally given to people who are having challenges in sleeping. It is also given to a patient who is going for a medical operation to sedate them.

“It is part of the medication that is used to sedate a patient before a procedure. It can also be taken by people who are having difficulty in sleeping. The other liquid was used in the treatment of tobacco called tamaron.”

Several ruling party officials said they were very affected and distraught by the premature loss of the former Zanu PF Harare provincial chairperson.

Born July 4, 1952, Midzi was part of the 89 party officials suspended from Zanu PF recently.

He was slapped with a five-year suspension for being part of the so-called “Gamatox camp” allegedly fronted by Joice Mujuru — which was accused of trying to topple Mugabe from power.

He began his political career in the late 70s and served as deputy minister from 1982, holding several ministerial portfolios after launching his political career.

As Harare chairperson, he became infamous for his fierce run-ins with his jailed rival Godwin Gomwe. First Lady Grace Mugabe later brokered a peace accord between the warring parties.

Rugare Gumbo, spokesperson for the Original Zanu PF (People First), said they had been saddened by the circumstances surrounding Midzi’s death.

“We are saddened with the untimely death,” Gumbo told the Daily News yesterday. “It came as a shock to us. Our thoughts are with the Midzi family. May his soul rest in peace.”

Gumbo said his outfit would meet over the death of Midzi before issuing out a comprehensive statement.