Moderate Zanu-PF lawmaker for Guruve South, Edward Chindori-Chininga, has died in a car accident while driving in his constituency.



The former mines minister was the chairman of the parliamentary portfolio committee on mines and energy that last week produced a damning report on missing diamond funds.



He survived a fatal crash last year when his vehicle collided with a 4X4 pick-up truck while driving on the Guruve Road, just 5 kilometers from the Harare-Bindura Road.



Social media construct Baba Jukwa, who writes controversial Zimbabwean political issues and has over 157,000 followers on Facebook, warned recently that Mr. Chindori-Chininga is being targeted by state security agents suspecting that he is leaking Zanu-PF and state secrets.



There was no immediate comment from the police and Zanu-PF officials. But according to the state-controlled Herald newspaper, the former cabinet minister died on the spot when his vehicle failed to stop and hit a tree at the intersection of Raffingora and Mvurwi roads.



The newspaper quoted Mashonaland Central Police Traffic Superintendent Ephraim Nyakata as saying the accident occurred Wednesday night. There were no further details.



The late Chindori-Chininga (58) served as Minister of Mines and Mining Development between 2000 and 2004. He once served as the Zimbabwe Tourist Development Director (Southern Africa) and also worked as the director for the Zimbabwe tourism offices in New York.