The elder brother of the late Retired General Solomon Mujuru has broken his silence and declared chances are high his brother, who died in a mysterious inferno in August, was murdered.
Joel Tazviwinga Mujuru (69) bared his soul to NewsDay in a wide-ranging exclusive interview in Goromonzi yesterday, saying indicators pointed to that the former Zanla commander was murdered and vowed to leave no stone unturned in unravelling the mystery behind the death.
He said the Mujuru family was also pursuing traditional practice consultations to establish what really befell Zimbabwe’s most highly decorated soldier. The elder Mujuru said he was angry with the manner in which investigations into his brother’s death were being conducted.
“Solomon was unable to go back to his vehicle where he left his phone, groceries and documents. It was not possible for him to leave his phone in the vehicle and go to sleep,” the elder Mujuru said.
“Secondly, I did not hear that the car keys were found. Solomon could have escaped through the window if it was a genuine fire. Where he died and where his bedroom was there was some distance.”
He added: “Solomon could have been burnt on the bed, not where he was found dead. The fire was coming from the other side going to his bedroom, but Solomon died where the fire was coming from. “All this gives me unanswered questions.”
The elder Mujuru said for the family to be satisfied that for sure their son had died, they were supposed to be allowed to identify the body before it was removed from the spot where he died.
“For us to be satisfied as a family that this was Solomon, we were supposed to identify him while he was still at the spot,” he said. “But I found Solomon removed.”
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Mujuru said he had a glimpse of just the lower part of what was Mujuru’s face. “Can that satisfy me that this was Solomon? Who had identified him? I very much suspect foul play, (but) God knows.”
He said even their elder sister, Lucia, was not accorded an opportunity to identify her late brother. Joel and Lucia are the only surviving Mujuru siblings. Joel Mujuru said seven members of their family are late.
He said traditional consultations to unravel the mystery were underway. “There are traditional processes going on,” he said. “As I sit here, someone is running around.”
Police chief Augustine Chihuri has since told the nation the investigation report on the death of Mujuru was sent to the courts for inquest consideration. However, sources said the report had been sent back to the police without elaborating.
Mujuru was declared a national hero and buried at the National Heroes’ Acre. His widow, Vice-President Joice Mujuru, has demanded a full investigation into her husband’s death, saying it was suspicious.
