Jonathan Moyo's daughter murdered?

SOUTH African police have opened a murder investigation after the daughter of Zimbabwe's Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Professor Jonathan Moyo was found dead in her Cape Town apartment. Zanele Moyo, 20, was slumped face-down with a head wound when her friend gained access to her apartment with the help of a locksmith on Saturday morning, sources close to the investigation said last night. She also bled from the nose.

Police spokesperson F.C. Van Wyk said: "Circumstances surrounding the death of a 20-year-old student whose body was found by friends deceased in a flat at Main Road in Rosebank is under investigation. "We've opened an inquest docket for further investigation. A post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death."

With results of a post-mortem not due until today, South African police have been working on the assumption that she may have been murdered after new details emerged. Investigators are looking for two Zambian nationals, including a man known only as Stephen, who was last seen with Zanele last Wednesday - the day investigators believe the University of Cape Town student died.

Last night, Prof Moyo, his businessman friend Phillip Chiyangwa and top lawyer Terrence Hussein were in Cape Town seeking answers and preparing for the repatriation of Zanele's body for burial in Zimbabwe. The Chronicle has learnt from friends that Zanele, who was studying for a degree in Political Science, International Relations, and Gender Studies, was introduced to Stephen three weeks ago by another Zambian national named Leo Chingwena.

Chingwena is said to be half Zimbabwean.

"Stephen took a liking to Zanele which bordered on obsession. He wanted a relationship with her," said a friend, who asked not to be named. Last Wednesday, according to several accounts corroborated by one police source, Zanele was in her apartment with Stephen when they were joined by her high school friend, only identified as Nicole. Zanele told Nicole that Stephen was taking her out for dinner, according to the accounts.

But at around 9PM that night, Nicole - who had earlier left the two in the apartment - was surprised to get a call from Stephen, using Zanele's phone. "He apparently asked Nicole to come over and lock-up, stating that her friend was 'passing out'," said a source close to the investigation.

"Nicole thought nothing of it, assuming they had been out drinking and said she was too busy to come over. That was the last time she heard from both Stephen and Zanele." In the days that followed, Zanele's mother is said to have called her several times and got no answer. She finally asked Nicole to go over and check on her on Sunday morning after sending her money to engage a locksmith.

Nicole and the locksmith were greeted by Zanele's lifeless body. She was still dressed in the clothes that she was last seen wearing on Wednesday. Prof Moyo was told of the horrific scene that confronted Nicole and the locksmith in the middle of delivering a speech to academic staff at the University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo.

Investigators now see the phone call from Stephen to Nicole as an important part of their enquiry — the circumstances compelling enough to open a criminal investigation.

UCT has sent its condolences to the Moyo family after offering to assist with funeral arrangements and counselling. It also offered counselling to any staff member or student distressed by Zanele's death. This came as a deluge of sympathies flooded Prof Moyo's Twitter account after the minister on Saturday posted a short, distressing message announcing: "God's people, my angel daughter Zanele is no more."

MDC lawmaker David Coltart said on Twitter: "I am very sorry to hear that @ProfJNMoyo daughter Zanele has died. Please accept my sincere condolences." "@ProfJNMoyo My deepest condolences on the sad passing on of your daughter, Zanele. MHDSRIP," MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu said.

TV star Vimbai Mutinhiri was also among those touched by the tragic death of Zanele, writing to the minister: "@ProfJNMoyo my deepest condolences to you and your family! You are in my prayers." Said Zimbabwe's ambassador to Senegal Trudy Stevenson: "Deepest sympathy on the tragic passing of Zanele. May she rest in peace. Prayers for you and your family at this sad time."

Zanele's body is expected to be repatriated back to Zimbabwe tomorrow or Wednesday when police are expected to have finalised their investigations and immigration formalities are completed. Mourners are gathered at No 7 Rosary Close, Borrowdale in Harare.