The inquest into the death of the most decorated Zimbabwean army commander, Retired General Solomon Mujuru, resumes today after it was adjourned last Friday.
Last week, the late Mujuru’s housemaid Rosemary Shoti told the court the late Mujuru was not a smoker, making it “very unlikely” he would keep matches on him or a cigarette lighter to start a fire. Mujuru family lawyer Thakor Kewada who was cross-examining the maid wanted to ascertain what could have possibly ignited the fire that burnt Mujuru to death.
It also emerged during the inquest, presided over by regional magistrate Walter Chikwanha, that although there were diesel tanks located near the main farmhouse, these were at a safe distance and never caught fire during the inferno.
“You stated in the affidavit that part of your duties included distributing diesel to workers. Can you clarify to the court where that diesel was stored and where the tanks were situated? Would you know whether the late General was a smoker and if he would keep a box of matches with him?” Kewada asked the maid.
Shoti said the diesel she distributed was safely stored behind a security wall, a safe distance from the house and the diesel tanks were never affected by the fire that killed the General.
“Within the yard there is a pre-cast wall and behind the wall is where the fuel tanks are situated. Around the area of the tanks there was no fire. The late Mujuru was also not a smoker,” Shoti explained.
Kewada then told the court since the late General was not a smoker, it would be fair to assume he did not have matches or even a cigarette lighter to light the candle that had been placed on his bedside drawers by the maid.
Chikwanha last week instructed specialists should be engaged to ascertain through an affidavit if the items Shoti had left in the fitted wardrobe were flammable.
