Outspoken Kyela MP Harrison Mwakyembe yesterday narrated how he and his driver narrowly escaped death in a road accident on Thursday, dispelling widespread suspicion of a plot to kill him over his anti-graft campaign.
Dr Mwakyembe, speaking to reporters for the first time since his admission to Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute in Dar es Salaam on Thursday afternoon, discounted claims the accident was a deliberate attempt at his life.
He was later in the evening discharged from hospital, with his doctor saying that he was impressed with his recovery. The Chama Cha Mapinduzi MP spoke from his hospital bed surrounded by close family members, relatives and friends.
"I believe this was a normal traffic accident. If it was God's wish I pray that he helps me to heal but if it was man-made, I also leave it to God," said Dr Mwakyembe, who though still in pain, looked calm and jovial.
Dr Mwakyembe, who has gained national fame from his tough stance against corruption, declared that he would, once out of hospital, continue the fight against the vice.
"I will not in under any circumstances backslide in my crusade against corruption," he said, replying to a question from a journalist.
Asked whether the MP's family suspected that the accident was linked to a plot to kill his brother, Mr Edward Mwakyembe, they believed it was a normal accident.
"As a member of the family, I see no need for investigations. And I believe this is the whole family's position," he said, adding the reports on his brother's accident had been exaggerated. Mr Mwakyembe called for calm as his brother recovers in hospital.
Speaking about the accident, the Kyela MP said his vehicle attempted to overtake a speeding truck, and was pushed off the road, rolling several times, before it landed in a ditch.
His 30-year-old driver, Mr Joseph Msuya, said he had honked to alert the truck driver that he wished to overtake him but he would not give way.
The MP said his driver made one more attempt and the truck appeared to give them way. "We proceeded, but the other driver accelerated," he said.
Dr Mwakyembe said the speeding truck driver looked into his side mirror as his vehicle was about to pass by it.Upon realising what lorry driver was doing, Dr Mwakyembe said he advised his driver to speed, driving at more than 140 km/hour in order to overtake it.
The truck then smashed into the MP's vehicle, pushing it off the road as the driver smashed into a pothole and lost control. Dr Mwakyembe said his vehicle rolled three times, as its tyre burst before it smashed into a tree.
Though his car was badly damaged, Dr Mwakyembe said their lives were probably saved by the safety belts they were wearing.
Mr Msuya said neither his boss nor him managed to take down the truck's number. The Kyela MP has been in the limelight since February last year, when he chaired the Parliamentary Select Committee that investigated the infamous $172 million Richmond emergency power generation contract.
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