AN MP has tragically died after his car hit an elephant that then crushed his vehicle in fury, according to local media reports.
Zimbabwean opposition lawmaker Desire Moyo was returning from the country’s parliament house with fellow politicians when the accident happened.
Zimbabwean opposition lawmaker Desire Moyo (pictured) has died after the vehicle he was travelling in hit an elephantCite
The car was seen completely crushed after the accidentTahir Ibn Manzoor
He died instantly while his fellow lawmakers were left injuredDesire Moyo/Facebook
He died instantly while his fellow lawmakers were left injured, state-owned broadcaster ZBC reported.
The other four passengers, Madalaboy Ndebele, Senator Rittah Ndlovu, Sethulo Ndebele, and Libion Sibanda sustained critical injuries and are receiving treatment at a local hospital.
Luveve MP Discent Bajila confirmed Moyo’s death, saying his family had been informed.
Police have not yet released full details of the incident, but initial investigation suggests that elephant appeared suddenly on the road – leaving the driver little time to respond.
Bajila said: “I spoke to [Madalaboy] Ndebele, who was in the front passenger seat. His recollection is that they hit the elephant on its backside. After the impact, he remembers the elephant turning round and fighting the vehicle.
“This, he believes, is what did the most damage on the top right side of the vehicle and ultimately led to Moyo’s fatal injuries.”
Tributes are now pouring in for Desire, who supporters hail as “an iconic leader”.
He was about to celebrate his 46th birthday.
The City of Bulawayo said: “His Worship Senator David Coltart, the mayor of the city of Bulawayo, councillors, the Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dube, Heads of Council Departments, staff and residents have learnt with sadness of the untimely passing on of Honourable Desire ‘Moyoxide’ Moyo.
“Moyo positively impacted the city through his various roles as a leader, Member of Parliament for the Nkulumane constituency and above all, a poet who protested against injustices and challenged all for the development of the city and the country.”
Moyo, a first-term legislator, was also a poet and former educator.
Meanwhile, terrifying footage caught a rampaging elephant flipping a tourist out of a canoe and trying to trample her to death.
The furious animal charged a water tour group in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, forcing holidaymakers to cling to their lives.
Footage shot by Larry Unrein, one among a party of an American couple and a British couple, shows the massive African elephant ploughing through the water with its ears spread.
It slaps the water with its trunk and trumpets loudly at the fleeing motor boat.
Suddenly, the catches up with the canoes and tosses them over with an almighty shove.
Both boats flip and at least two passengers are left floundering in the water – right in the path of the furious elephant.
It uses its head to ram one woman down beneath the surface to panicked shouts of “Oh no!” from the rest of the party.
Boaters were flung from the canoes, and the elephant tried to crush this woman to death Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
