Return to apologise, Zimbabwe parents tell US diplomat who killed their son – Newstrends
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Return to apologise, Zimbabwe parents tell US diplomat who killed their son

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8 months ago

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Return to apologise, Zimbabwe parents tell US diplomat who killed their son

The family of an 11-year-old girl allegedly killed by a US diplomat in Zimbabwe in a road accident in June have told the BBC they want him to return to the country and apologise to them in person.

Ruvarashe Takamhanya is believed to have been run over by a vehicle driven by the diplomat as she was on her way to school in Dema, a town 40km (24 miles) south-east of the capital, Harare.

Her parents say they realise the US diplomat has diplomatic immunity but an apology might help them recover from the pain and give them a sense of closure.

“Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the girl,” a US State Department spokesperson told the BBC, adding that its Harare embassy was co-operating with local officials.

The embassy “recognises the devastation of this accident for all involved”, the spokesperson said.

Ruvarashe was heading to school with her best friend on a Monday morning when she was hit as she crossed the main road that runs through Dema, the BBC has been told.

Her mother, Juliana Vito, said she found out about the accident from neighbours and ran to the scene.

“I thought she was going to wake up. Till now I keep thinking it’s just a dream. I’m deeply hurt,” the 24-year-old told the BBC.

She said that the driver of the car was not there when she got to the crash site – and had not reached out directly to the family since.

His colleagues apologised on his behalf, she said, and told her that that he left the scene because he was “affected by the accident”.

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“I felt like he wasn’t really sorry,” she said. “I wish he came directly so I could pour my heart out.”

The girl’s father, Silvester Takhamanya, told the BBC they were given $2,000 (£1,575) by the US embassy to cover funeral arrangements.

The US State Department spokesperson confirmed the embassy had provided “support to the girl’s family” and said representatives attended the funeral.

But the family feel abandoned in their grief.

“We are trying to be brave,” Mr Takamhanya told the BBC.

Ruvarashe’s parents say she lived up to her name, which means “flower of God” in the Shona language, describing her as sweet, kind and intelligent.

“People were always amazed by her,” her mother, who is a baker, said proudly.

Police spokesman Paul Nyathi told the BBC the diplomat had initially said he wanted to rest after the accident, which happened on 3 June, and that he would then make contact with investigators.

But investigations had stalled as the diplomat left Zimbabwe not long after the accident, according to Mr Nyathi.

Zimbabwe’s presidential spokesman George Charamba has expressed outrage at his conduct.

“When a diplomat is involved in a fatal traffic accident, uses the pretext of counselling, which he thinks is only available in his country, and then decides to stay away from police, he or she moves from being a diplomat to a fugitive,” he told the state-run Herald newspaper last month.

Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana was more tactful in his response to the BBC.

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But he explained the Vienna Convention, on which diplomatic immunity is founded, “gives both privileges and responsibilities”.

“Whilst what happened was an unfortunate fatal accident which resulted in the tragic loss of the life of one of our nationals, there is an expectation that the parties involved would take responsibility and do the right thing by the family of the victim as well as by the laws of this country.

“It is part of diplomats’ responsibility to abide by and comply with the laws of the host country.”

The US State Department spokesperson said the embassy would continue to communicate with the police and other officials as they complete their investigation.

Mr Mangwana said the incident should not affect diplomatic relations with the US: “As a government, we do not believe that the diplomat concerned set out to kill our national. It was an accident regardless of his culpability for it.”

Ruvarashe’s parents, who do not live together, tend to struggle day to day and had high hopes for their daughter’s future.

“She loved school so much. She wanted to be an air hostess,” said Mr Takamhanya.

Ruvarashe’s ambition had been a joy for her mother, who said she had dropped out of school when she had become pregnant with her.

“I still can’t believe she is gone. She was my only child. I thought she was going to take care of me one day,” Ms Vito said.

“I’m just surviving but my life and my hope is gone. I’m dying day by day.”

She said she looked on Ruvarashe as a best friend, adding that her daughter had also often helped look after her as her health was “deteriorating”.

Compensation would definitely help the family, but more than anything Ruvarashe’s parents want the driver of the car that killed their daughter to sit down with them and explain what happened.

“He should come back and say sorry,” said Mr Takamhanya.

Additional reporting by Ish Mafundikwa in Harare.

 

Return to apologise, Zimbabwe parents tell US diplomat who killed their son

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Fuel hits N8,000/litre in Niger, country seeks help from Nigeria

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1 week ago

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March 16, 2025

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Fuel hits N8,000/litre in Niger, country seeks help from Nigeria

With the fuel crisis bedevilling the Republic of Niger, some of its military officials have visited Abuja to seek support from Nigeria to tackle the shortage of Premium Motor Spirit in the country.

It was gathered that the delegation successfully got the approval for 300 trucks of fuel from the Nigerian government.

Trouble started for Niger -which has been reliant on a Chinese refinery – after the refinery was shut down due to some misunderstanding with the supplier.

This led to Niger turning to Nigeria for help to ameliorate the fuel shortage experienced by the country.

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Officials from the Nigerian government noted that the deal was approved with the hope of using it as a bargaining tool with Niger.

“We do not want to blow our trumpet. Rather, we want to use it as a bargaining chip for negotiation, as we continue to engage with them to bring them back to ECOWAS.

“Let them get more from us. I am confident that gradually they will come back to ECOWAS because they do not have enough resources to import food to sustain their citizens,” the official said while pleading anonymity.

Sources stated that fuel prices in Niger were hitting N8,000 per litre

However, some transborder businessmen have attributed the fuel scarcity in Niger to the lingering relationship between the country and Nigeria.

They noted that in some cross-border towns to Niger, fuel is being sold for between 1,200 CFA and N3,500 (N2,500 and N8,500).

Fuel hits N8,000/litre in Niger, country seeks help from Nigeria

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Africa

ECOWAS activates standby force against insurgency

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2 weeks ago

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March 12, 2025

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ECOWAS activates standby force against insurgency

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has activated its Standby Force to curb terrorism and other transborder crimes in the subregion.

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, who disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday at the Forty-third ordinary meeting of ECOWAS Committee Chiefs of Defence Staff said the economic growth of the region is dependent on stable peace.

The minister added that there is a need for members of ECOWAS to close ranks against all forms of threats against the region.

On January 29, 2025, ECOWAS recognised the exit of three of its former members Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic upon the expiration of a one-year notice period.

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However, in “the spirit of regional solidarity”, ECOWAS asked its member countries to still recognise the national passports of the three exiting countries bearing the ECOWAS logo until further notice.

Their departure from the bloc has fractured the region and is leaving the ECOWAS grouping with an uncertain future.

The three junta-led countries formally notified ECOWAS of their plan for an “immediate” withdrawal in January 2024, citing the organisation’s excessive dependence on France in particular.

Paris has become the common enemy of the three juntas, which now favour partnerships with countries such as Russia, Turkey and Iran.

However, ECOWAS required one year’s notice for the departure to be effective — that deadline falls on January 29, 2025.

The three Sahelian countries have teamed up to form a separate confederation called the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

ECOWAS activates standby force against insurgency

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Africa

Policewoman arrested for murder of husband, female friend

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2 weeks ago

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March 11, 2025

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Nyiko Nyathi

Policewoman arrested for murder of husband, female friend

A 42-year-old police sergeant, Nyiko Nyathi was arrested in connection with the kidnapping and brutal murder of her husband and his ‘female friend’ in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

The officer handed herself over to authorities at Bushbuckridge police station, according to Mpumalanga provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli.

She appeared before the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court on Monday, March 10, 2025, facing charges for the m8rder of her husband and another woman.

“According to information, in February 2024, Lawrence Alba Mashego, 44, was reportedly attacked by a group of armed men at his house in Boikhutsong Trust in Bushbuckridge. The armed men robbed him of his Toyota Quantum and Ford Escort, then he got kidnapped,” said Mdhluli.

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“The two vehicles were reportedly used by the armed suspects as a mode of transport to reach a certain house in Zoeknog. At the house, they found Victoria Lebyane, 44, Mashego’s female friend, in possession of Mashego’s bank cards.”

Lebyane was then robbed of about R4,000 cash as well as some bank cards belonging to Mashego. After that, Mashego and Lebyane were m8rdered by the assailants.

“The matter was probed by the men and women in blue, where a thorough investigation was carried out, leading to the arrest of four suspects in connection with the incident. One of the suspects then pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 77 years imprisonment,” said Mdhluli.

As the police intensified their investigations, the police sergeant was implicated in the m8rder of her husband Mashego, and Lebyane.

Following the court appearance on Monday, the case was postponed to Wednesday, for a formal bail application.

Meanwhile, acting provincial commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, has welcomed Nyathi’s arrest.

He emphasised that the law will take its course on anyone suspected to have committed crime, regardless of their social status or position.

“The SAPS remains resolute to be intolerant to any criminality within our ranks,” said Mkhwanazi.

Policewoman arrested for murder of husband, female friend

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