adminThere were reports in some sections of the media that Vhiriri, who died on Wednesday aged about 60, and an MDC activist in Glen View Harare, was a victim of political violence.
This was after neighbours reportedly found Vhiriri unconscious, naked and lying on the floor in his room with injuries all over the body before his death on admission to Harare Central Hospital.
His family and MDC officials made claims that he had died as a result of political violence.
However, in a statement yesterday, national police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka said police investigations and postmortem results showed that Vhiriri died of natural causes.
Chief Supt Mandipaka said the bruises, which the family claimed showed Vhiriri was attacked, were consistent with falling.
“Contrary to a front page story in the Daily News of Friday, 18 November alleging that an MDC official was killed as a result of political violence, police investigations carried out so far and the results of a full postmortem examination by a pathologist indicate that Vhiriri died of cerebral vascular accident due to hypertension.
“The bruises all over the body were consistent with falling,” said Chief Supt Mandipaka.
Some sections of the media, in tandem with the MDC, wanted to gain political mileage by alleging their member had been murdered for political reasons.
Chief Supt Mandipaka warned the media against misleading readers by politicising issues and said the police were not suspecting any foul play as it has been confirmed that death was as a result of natural causes.
“It is in the public interest for some sections of the media to put facts in their correct perspective and avoid politicisation of straightforward issues and speculation,” he said.
Online Reporter