Inquest finds no foul play in general's death

An inquest in Zimbabwe has ruled there was no foul play in the death of a top power broker in President Robert Mugabe's party. Former army commander General Solomon Mujuru, the husband of the nation's vice president, was burned beyond recognition in a fire at his farmhouse south of Harare last year. “Solomon Mujuru was one of the key players in Zimbabwe. He was said to be the only person who could challenge Mugabe at party meetings,” said Dennis Benton, the chief spokesman for the London-based Zimbabwe Vigil.

Despite the conclusions of the inquest, Mujuru’s family still has questions about the circumstances of his death. They have called for Mujuru’s body to be exhumed and examined by an independent pathologist. Benton, however, said further investigation is doubtful. “There’s considerable anxiety in the party just to let the matter lie... and there’s unlikely to be any further developments, whatever the demands of the family.”

The results of the inquiry, Benton said, highlight the corruption and injustice of the Mugabe regime: “It shows what a travesty of justice the legal system in Zimbabwe is. And it shows that the Mugabe people can act with impunity, really. They can get away with anything...”

Listen to the full interview of Christopher Wells with Dennis Benton: