General Solomon Mujuru dies in fire

Sixty-two year old retired army General Solomon Mujuru, one of the chief ‘kingmakers’ in ZANU PF has died in a fire in the early hours of Tuesday morning at his farmhouse in Beatrice, 60 km outside Harare.

Mujuru was one of the most powerful and feared men in Zimbabwe, and his death immediately triggered rumours of a conspiracy in the battle to succeed President Mugabe.

The General was married to Joice Mujuru, Vice-President of Zimbabwe and leader of a moderate faction in Mugabe’s Zanu PF party. Analysts said his death will shake Zimbabwe’s political landscape and rock Zanu PF. It might even further destabilize the power-sharing agreement with the MDC.