ZANU PF has been thrown into fresh mourning after another fatal road accident claimed the life of a senior party official in the treacherous Boterekwa Pass, a notorious blackspot in the Midlands Province. The latest tragedy comes amid shocking revelations that the late official had recently courted controversy after allegedly threatening to poison Vice President Constantino Chiwenga with crocodile milk during internal party tensions.
The deceased has been identified as Cde Marime, the ruling party’s provincial chairman for Mashonaland Central and a member of the ZANU PF Central Committee. He was reportedly travelling along the winding Boterekwa stretch on Sunday evening when his vehicle veered off the road and overturned, killing him instantly. Police confirmed the incident but said detailed investigations were still underway.
The ruling party’s Midlands structures have been left shaken by the loss, with several members describing Marime’s death as both “a huge loss” and “a major political shock” for Mashonaland Central. ZANU PF Central Committee member Cde Marime, who had been central in party mobilisation in the province, was said to be close to businessman and controversial benefactor Wicknell Chivayo.
The Boterekwa Pass, also known as Shurugwi Pass, has for years been a scene of deadly road accidents due to its sharp curves, steep slopes, and poor visibility. Despite calls for the highway to be redesigned or expanded, tragedies continue to occur, often involving senior government or party officials travelling between Harare and the Midlands.
Sunday’s accident has once again reignited debate about the safety of the route and the slow pace of government intervention to upgrade it. Residents and motorists have long labelled Boterekwa “a death trap.”
“This is the third senior official we have lost in that stretch in recent years,” one ZANU PF insider noted. “We are tired of burying leaders from accidents that could be prevented if proper investment was made to make the road safer.”
ZANU PF Chairman Linked to Wicknell Perishes in Boterekwa Crash After Threatening Chiwenga
While the ruling party mourns, attention has also turned to Marime’s recent political controversies. Reports suggest he had openly made bizarre threats against Vice President Chiwenga, allegedly boasting that he could poison him with crocodile milk, a substance steeped in traditional folklore and said to be lethal if ingested.
Though dismissed by some as mere “political banter,” the alleged threat had stirred unease within ZANU PF, particularly as factional tensions between President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s camp and Chiwenga’s allies continue to deepen.
Party sources claimed Marime had made the remarks during a heated private discussion following President Mnangagwa’s lavish birthday celebrations, which some officials criticised as excessive at a time when ordinary Zimbabweans are battling economic hardship.
“The crocodile milk remark was reckless, especially directed at someone of Chiwenga’s stature. It didn’t sit well with many in the party,” one official disclosed.
President Mnangagwa’s birthday bash, held recently in Kwekwe, has itself become a source of political headaches. What was intended to be a show of unity and celebration reportedly exposed deep divisions within ZANU PF. While Mnangagwa’s loyalists painted the event as a show of strength, critics accused the leadership of extravagance.
Marime’s outspokenness at the event, where he allegedly challenged party heavyweights and made his controversial crocodile milk threat, is now being linked to growing factional discontent within the ruling party. His sudden death in the Boterekwa accident has only intensified speculation, with some suggesting foul play, though no evidence has been presented.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokespersons confirmed the accident but appealed for patience as investigations continue. “Yes, we can confirm a fatal accident along Boterekwa Pass involving a senior party official. More details will be released in due course once we have completed our investigations,” a police source said.
ZANU PF, through its Mashonaland Central structures, has also indicated that formal announcements about funeral arrangements will be made after consultations with the Marime family.
The tragedy has sparked waves of speculation, with some party members viewing Marime’s death as an unfortunate accident, while others whisper about the possibility of internal plots given his recent threats against Chiwenga.
Analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya noted that the circumstances of Marime’s demise — coming so soon after his controversial remarks — were bound to fuel conspiracy theories. “In ZANU PF politics, coincidences are rarely accepted at face value. His proximity to Wicknell Chivayo and his alleged crocodile milk threat to Chiwenga will naturally trigger suspicions. But at this stage, we must be guided by facts from police investigations,” Ruhanya said.
Marime’s death adds to the turbulence ZANU PF is currently navigating. With the party’s annual conference set for Mutare later this year, leadership tensions, succession battles, and the management of internal dissent remain pressing challenges for President Mnangagwa.
The loss of a provincial chairman under such dramatic circumstances not only weakens structures in Mashonaland Central but also injects further uncertainty into a party already struggling to project unity.
As one senior official put it: “We are mourning, but we are also aware that the political implications of this accident will be felt for months to come.”
Source- ZimEye
