IN the small town of Dema, located just 40 kilometres southeast of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, the Takamhanya family is grappling with an unimaginable loss. Their 11-year-old daughter, Ruvarashe Takamhanya, was tragically killed in a road accident involving a US diplomat. As the family mourns, they are not just seeking justice, but also a heartfelt apology from the diplomat, who has since left the country under the protection of diplomatic immunity.
The incident that shook a family
On a fateful Monday morning in June, Ruvarashe was making her usual journey to school with her best friend. The day began like any other, but it soon turned into a nightmare that would forever alter the lives of her family. As Ruvarashe crossed the main road in Dema, a vehicle driven by a US diplomat struck her, causing fatal injuries. News of the accident quickly spread through the community, and her mother, Juliana Vito, rushed to the scene after hearing about it from neighbours.
‘I thought she was going to wake up. Till now I keep thinking it’s just a dream. I’m deeply hurt,’ Juliana recalls in an interview with the BBC, her voice trembling with grief. But when she arrived at the scene, the driver was nowhere to be found. According to witnesses, the diplomat had left the site of the accident, reportedly too ‘affected by the accident’ to remain.
This lack of immediate accountability has left Ruvarashe’s parents in a state of profound sorrow and confusion. The family received an apology from the diplomat’s colleagues, who visited them on his behalf, but the gesture felt hollow to Juliana. ‘I felt like he wasn’t really sorry,’ she says. ‘I wish he came directly so I could pour my heart out.’
Diplomatic immunity and accountability
The situation is complicated by the diplomat’s immunity under international law. As a foreign representative, he is shielded from local prosecution and cannot be compelled to remain in the country or face legal consequences. The US State Department has confirmed the diplomat’s immunity, but it also expressed its condolences to the family and stated that the embassy in Harare is cooperating with Zimbabwean authorities.
‘Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the girl,’ a US State Department spokesperson told the BBC. The spokesperson emphasised that the embassy ‘recognises the devastation of this accident for all involved’ and is continuing to communicate with local officials as the investigation progresses.
Despite these assurances, the Takamhanya family remains unconvinced that justice will be served. They understand the legal protections afforded to the diplomat, but they believe that a personal apology could help them find some semblance of closure. ‘He should come back and say sorry,’ urges Ruvarashe’s father, Silvester Takamhanya.
A nation’s outrage
The incident has not only devastated Ruvarashe’s family but also sparked outrage across Zimbabwe. The government’s response has been a mix of diplomatic caution and public frustration. Zimbabwe’s presidential spokesman, George Charamba, did not mince words when addressing the diplomat’s departure from the country. ‘When a diplomat is involved in a fatal traffic accident, uses the pretext of counselling, which he thinks is only available in his country, and then decides to stay away from police, he or she moves from being a diplomat to a fugitive,’ Charamba told the state-run Herald newspaper.
Nick Mangwana, another government spokesperson, took a more measured tone in his comments. He acknowledged the diplomat’s immunity under the Vienna Convention but emphasised that with such privileges come responsibilities. ‘Whilst what happened was an unfortunate fatal accident which resulted in the tragic loss of the life of one of our nationals, there is an expectation that the parties involved would take responsibility and do the right thing by the family of the victim as well as by the laws of this country,’ Mangwana explained.
Despite the severity of the situation, Mangwana noted that the incident should not harm diplomatic relations between Zimbabwe and the United States. ‘As a government, we do not believe that the diplomat concerned set out to kill our national. It was an accident regardless of his culpability for it.’
A life cut short
Ruvarashe was a bright, kind, and intelligent girl with dreams that reached far beyond the small town where she lived. Her parents describe her as a ‘flower of God,’ a meaning behind her Shona name, who brought joy and light to everyone around her. She loved school and aspired to become an air hostess, a career that would allow her to see the world.
‘People were always amazed by her,’ says Juliana, who is a baker by trade. Her daughter’s ambition was a source of pride for her, especially because Juliana had to drop out of school when she became pregnant with Ruvarashe. ‘I still can’t believe she is gone. She was my only child. I thought she was going to take care of me one day,’ Juliana confides, her grief palpable.
Ruvarashe’s death has left a void that can never be filled. Her parents, who do not live together, were both deeply invested in her future and are now left struggling with the day-to-day reality of life without their daughter. ‘I’m just surviving, but my life and my hope are gone. I’m dying day by day,’ Juliana admits, her voice heavy with despair.
The need for closure
While compensation from the US embassy has helped cover the costs of Ruvarashe’s funeral, what the family truly seeks is closure. They want the diplomat who was involved in the accident to return to Zimbabwe, meet with them, and offer a sincere apology. For them, it’s not about legalities or even financial restitution—it’s about healing the deep emotional wounds left by the loss of their only child.
As the family continues to navigate their grief, they hope that their plea for a personal apology will be heard. For them, it’s a crucial step toward finding peace in the aftermath of a tragedy that has forever changed their lives.
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