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Zimbabwean PM's wife dies in car crash 20:47 AEST Sat Mar 7 2009
Zimbabwe PM Morgan Tsvangirai has been injured and his wife Susan killed in a car accident.
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Two daughters living in Australia of Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai will fly to their injured father's side after their mother was killed in a collision with a truck.
Susan Tsvangirai, 50, died on Friday when the car in which she and her husband were travelling collided with a truck carrying US aid on the outskirts of the capital of Harare on a decrepit road notorious for accidents.
The Tsvangirais' elder daughter, Vimbai, believed to be in her mid-20s, has reportedly been working for Sydney City Council.
Their second daughter Rumbidzai, aged about 23, an economics graduate of Perth's Murdoch University, appeared last year at a Perth rally in support of her father before Zimbabwe's elections.
Mr Tsvangirai may be released from hospital on Saturday or Sunday, said Dr Douglas Gwatidzo, head of casualty at the Harare hospital where the prime minister was being treated.
He said the prime minister had head injuries and chest pains, but was in stable condition.
State television showed pictures of Tsvangirai in a neck brace, which Gwatidzo said was being used to keep him comfortable.
"We might release him today or tomorrow," Gwatidzo said.
The Tsvangirais had six children in their 31-year marriage.
It has been reported their teenage twins, Millicent and Vincent, and a son Edwin, aged about 31, live in South Africa, while another son Garikai, aged about 28, lives in Canada.
Ian Makone, a secretary to the prime minister, said Tsvangirai was "very devastated by the death of his wife".
He said her children were flying to Zimbabwe from Australia and South Africa and funeral arrangements were being made.
Tsvangirai's party wants an independent probe of the car crash, a lawmaker said on Saturday.
"We will not get involved in any speculations until a full investigation has been conducted. Right now can't draw any speculations," said Eddie Cross, an MP from Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party.
"The party will insist on an independent investigation."
A US Embassy official said the truck involved was transporting medicine for AIDS patients donated by the US government.
State-run newspaper The Herald reported on Saturday that the two other people in Tsvangirai's car - the driver and a bodyguard - were also injured.
Mrs Tsvangirai was pronounced dead soon after arrival at a clinic about 40km from Harare, Makone said.
Britain and the United States, both supporters of Tsvangirai, sent condolences.
President Robert Mugabe spent about an hour at the hospital late Friday.
Tsvangirai, who turns 57 next week, was sworn in on February 11 as Zimbabwe's prime minister in a power-sharing deal meant to end almost a year of deadly stalemate with Mugabe.
The unity government was formed under pressure from neighbouring leaders who wanted Zimbabwean leaders to turn their attention to a growing humanitarian and economic crisis after years of rivalry between Tsvangirai and Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980.
Tsvangirai formed his Movement for Democratic Change a decade ago.
As it emerged as a serious political challenger, Tsvangirai repeatedly faced the wrath of Mugabe's ZANU-PF. He has been beaten and was once nearly thrown from a 10th floor window by suspected government thugs.
Zimbabwe has the world's highest official inflation rate, a hunger crisis that has left most of its people dependent on foreign handouts and a cholera epidemic blamed on the collapse of a once-enviable health and sanitation system.