Machaya cleared by Zanu-PF just before crash

MIDLANDS Provincial Affairs minister Jason Machaya, who is currently battling for his life at Avenues Clinic in Harare following a near-fatal road accident on Sunday, had just been cleared to resume his duties as Zanu-PF provincial chairperson before the mishap, NewsDay reported.

Machaya was suspended as Zanu-PF Midlands chairman in November 2014 after being linked to former Vice-President Joice Mujuru's alleged plot to topple President Robert Mugabe from power.

Machaya was seriously injured on Sunday when the front wheel of his Landrover Discovery 4 came off, resulting in the vehicle overturning and rolling three times just outside Chegutu along the Harare-Bulawayo Highway. He was said to be in a stable condition yesterday.

A source close to the minister said he was due to take over the provincial chairmanship from acting chairman Joram Gumbo, adding the accident raised eyebrows.

"It (the vehicle) had just come from a major service and all its electronic controls, which indicate from fuel consumption rate, tyre pressure to braking system, were in good working condition," a source said.

Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the accident and urged motorists to check the fitness of their vehicles before embarking on journeys.