Former Zanu-PF Harare provincial chairman and Cabinet Minister Cde Amos Midzi, who was found dead in his car at Munandi Farm in Beatrice yesterday, could have committed suicide after a one-litre bottle of poisonous methamidophos and sleeping tablets were recovered in the vehicle.
Suicide suspected
Poisonous chemical, sleeping pills found
Police probe on
This graphic shows scenes at Munandi Farm in Beatrice where former zanu-pf Harare provincial chairman Cde Amos Midzi (encircled) was found dead yesterday
Herald Reporters
Former Zanu-PF Harare provincial chairman and Cabinet Minister Cde Amos Midzi, who was found dead in his car at Munandi Farm in Beatrice yesterday, could have committed suicide after a one-litre bottle of poisonous methamidophos and sleeping tablets were recovered in the vehicle.
Police also recovered a cup containing a bluish liquid.
In a statement, Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba, said investigations were underway to ascertain the cause of Cde Midzi’s death.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police would like to confirm the death of Mr Amos Midzi in a suspected poisoning case, which occurred in the morning of 9th June 2015 at Munandi Farm, Beatrice. The body of the deceased was found in his vehicle, a Ford Everest registration number ACY 3329, grey in colour with all doors locked,” she said.
She said the farm manager made a report and officers from Beatrice Police Station, CID Homicide and a pathologist attended the scene.
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“The body was inspected and no injuries were noted. One litre container of a liquid methamidophos, which was three quarters full, dormicum tablets and a cup containing a bluish liquid were found in the vehicle,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.
Methamidophos is a highly toxic, highly regulated systemic and residual organophosphate insecticide.
Its health effects are consistent with all organophosphates and result in the inhibition of the enzyme, cholinesterase, which disrupts normal transmission of nerve impulses.
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Due to its toxicity, it is highly regulated throughout the world.
According to experts, a dormicum tablet is a sleep-inducing agent characterised by a rapid onset and short duration of action.
It also exerts anxiolytic, hypnotic, anticonvulsant and muscle-relaxant effects.
Dormicum impairs psychomotor function after single and/or multiple doses, but causes minimal haemodynamic changes, reveals a medical website.
A few relatives last night started gathering at Cde Midzi’s Mt Pleasant home.
Cde Midzi was a former Minister of Mines and Mining Development and Energy and Power Development.
Among the mourners were former Clerk of Parliament Mr Austin Zvoma, Dr Olivia Muchena, Cde Christopher Chigumba, Cde Tendai Savanhu, Cde Noah Mangondo, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere and Cde Godwills Masimirembwa.
The deceased’s brother, Dr Stanley Midzi, said the body had been taken to a hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
“Post-mortem is likely to be conducted tomorrow (today) and that is when we will issue a statement to the media about the results and funeral arrangements,” he said.
At the time of his death, Cde Midzi was serving a five-year suspension from Zanu-PF for being part of the Mujuru putchist cabal.
He was 62, and would have turned 63 on July 4.
In 1993, Cde Midzi was appointed Zimbabwe’s ambassador to the United States of America.
Between 2002 and 2009, Cde Midzi served as Energy and Power Development Minister and Mines and Mining Development Minister respectively.
He also contested the 2002 mayoral elections, but lost to MDC-T’s Elias Mudzuri.
In 2008 he contested the Epworth House of Assembly seat and lost to Elias Jembere (MDC-T).
He reclaimed the seat in the 2013 harmonised elections.
Cde Midzi is survived by his wife Alice and three children — two boys and a girl.