Who, if anyone, wanted to kill Tsvangirai?

It was a hell of a twist to a terrible tale. The incident was already loaded with suspicion — justifiable or not. Though Tsvangirai’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change party said they did not suspect any foul play, they couldn’t help noting, “We are… alive to the fact that a lot of Robert Mugabe’s opponents died in suspicious road accidents involving army trucks.” 

Now, rumors of assasination are flying in the opposite direction. Did “the West” try to bring down Tsvangirai? One Zimbabwean MP seems to think so, and he’s calling for an investigation to find out.”Given the physical facts surrounding it, suspects in this tragic accident can only be those who have vigorously opposed the unity of Zimbabweans and who have responded to the formation of an inclusive government by extending their evil sanctions,” he said.

Of course, if something was awry, then all should be debunked. But if accidents are accidents, this is dangerous stuff. Tsvingirai, in his mourning, will have to be careful to avoid being drawn into Mugabe’s opposition to the U.S. and Britain. Even unintentional posturing could discredit him as a recipient of aid so desperately needed to stabilize Zimbabwe’s economy.

Moreover, the position would shortcut any political sway he holds in the already precarious power-sharing government. Mugabe has survived on a story that paints himself as the sole liberator from Western intervention. If that “intervention” victimizes Tsvangirai, Mugabe will have rationalized his senior role as the regime’s protectorate. Let’s hope his recent rare kind words for the man are as close as the relationship gets. 

DESMOND KWANDE/AFP/Getty Images