Jongwe’s mother points finger at ZANU PF for son’s death
Emilia Jongwe, mother of the late MDC spokesman and Kuwadzana MP, Learnmore Jongwe, says she holds the Zanu PF government responsible for the death of her son.
Speaking at her son’s Ridgeview home where relatives and friends were gathered last week, Mbuya Jongwe said it was highly irresponsible for anyone to suggest that her departed son had been poisoned by her relatives.Weeping bitterly, she said government had insinuated that Jongwe had been poisoned by relatives who brought him meals at the remand prison.
“The meal was prepared by Learnmore’s sister in my presence. Whom among us would have ever contemplated poisoning him when we loved him so dearly?,” said Mbuya Jongwe. She said it was usual for Learnmore to share his meals with other inmates and they too should have died if the food had indeed been poisoned. “Chikafu chataibikira Learnmore chaive chevanhu four. Mazuva ese taiendesera iye neshamwari dzake saka hataimboda kuuraya vatorwa vaaidya navo. Ko dai chikafu change chiine poison seyi vamwe vake vari vapenyu?” (The food we cooked for Learnmore was enough for four. Everyday we would send him enough food to share with his friends. Why would we have wanted to kill them?) she asked.
Raymond Majongwe, the secretary-general of the Progressive Teachers Union who shared the same cell with Learnmore for 72 hours was one of the inmates who ate the food on the fateful day.
Majongwe, who was freed on Monday afternoon, a few hours before Jongwe died in controversial circumstances, told The Standard that he had eaten the lunch which comprised sadza, stew and vegetables with Learnmore and two other inmates whom he identified.
Said Majongwe: Myself, Mushonga, Justin and Learnmore ate the meal which we enjoyed and it puzzles me when some people try to suggest that it may have been poisoned. In fact, we shared whatever meal came from our relatives. If it had been poisoned, I doubt I would be here talking to you right now.” He added: “When I left the cell on Monday, Learnmore actually encouraged me to continue the struggle to emancipate teachers from the shackles of Zimta and the government.
His exact words were: ‘Mukoma, don’t give up but don’t forget to bring me Mazoe and tissues when you visit me.”
Majongwe, who said he had been inspired by the young lawyer’s advice, said he had been devastated when he heard about Learnmore’s death. “I am devastated and I cannot believe he was sick when I left him in high spirits. I dismiss that suggestion with the contempt it deserves. In most of the discussions we had, Jongwe offered me legal advice on my case, I could tell this was a young man who was not contemplating anything like suicide. He was just looking forward to many things in life,” he said. Jongwe had been in prison awaiting trial on a murder charge.
The manner in which Learnmore died, said Mbuya Jongwe, had shown gross negligence and an unwillingness on the part of government to help the young legislator. “Vakatadza kubata mwana wangu zvakanaka ndosaka zvakazosvika pazvave apa. Dai vakamuisawo kechemu mumakumbo vomuendesa kuchipatara. Inga vamwe vasungwa tinovaona vaine cheni asi vachirapwa. Ko iyewo akaita sei anorwara kubva na 2am kusvika azofe kwoyedza asina kana kumborapwa,” said a grieving Mbuya Jongwe. (They did not treat him well, that is why this happened.
Why didn’t they chain him and then render medical assistance to him while he was chained? After all we see other prisoners receiving assistance while in chains. Why was his case different? How can one be sick from 2am until his death at dawn without any attempt being made to help him?)
Lamenting the tragedy that befell her son, Mbuya Jongwe said her son could have survived had it not been for his undying love for Rutendo.
“If it had not been for his consuming love for Rutendo, my son could have been alive today. If he had left Rutendo alone, he would have fought divorce battles only in the courts,” she said. Right from the wedding day, she said, her son’s relationship with Rutendo had been dogged with problems. “A day before their wedding, the two quarreled over a man who was allegedly in a relationship with Rutendo. Learnmore cancelled the wedding and had to be persuaded to continue with proceedings by family elders.” She said the marriage was thereafter rocked with constant clashes between the two.
On one occasion, she said Learnmore divided the family furniture and ordered Rutendo to leave the house because she was denying him his conjugal rights but then tried again to work things out in a bid to save his marriage. “Muroora aive asisade kuti Learnmore avate mumagumbeze ake, asi iye haana kuudza kana vana sekuru vake. Takatozoudzwa nemunin’ina wake aive pano mazuva iwayo,” she said.
Jongwe kept his marital problems from both family and friends and this, the mother suspects, contributed to his emotional damage until the fateful day when the couple fought at their Ridgeview home.
The mother said she deplored the violent tragedy but could not understand how her “loving and gentle son” could have acted in such a manner. Mbuya Jongwe said she appreciated the Muusha family coming to mourn with the Jongwes but regretted the delay in the families coming together. “Dai vakatibatsira kuti mukuwasha wavo apiwe bail akwanise kuvaripa mhosva yaakapara zvimwe dai asina kufa.” (If only they had helped us to achieve bail so that he could have paid restitution for his crime, maybe this would not have happened.)
The MDC has, meanwhile, announced that it will hold a church service and body viewing ceremony at the City Sports Centre today. MDC president, Morgan Tsvangurai earlier in the week blamed President Mugabe’s regime for Jongwe’s death. Jongwe will be buried at the family homestead on Tuesday.
-Vimbai Kandemiri
Posted by Wellington Chadehumbe
on October 27, 2002. Filed under Politics.
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