The tragic news of the death of Susan Tsvangirai has saddened all Zimbabweans. The wife of the new Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai, has been described as a loving mother and loyal wife who was also involved in charity work helping vulnerable groups.

Tributes continue to pour in since her life was taken in the car accident that heft her husband injured.

Journalist Basildon Peta described her as "an ordinary woman with extraordinary charm". In a tribute to the 'Mother of the Nation' Peta wrote: "She never moaned about what life was like for her and her children and the risks that came from living with Robert Mugabe's nemesis. It was always about the children of Zimbabwe.

"It was a typical caring and motherly attitude that Zimbabwe had always wanted from its First Lady but never got. She was a total contrast to Grace Mugabe. Where Grace was known for her extravagance, her shopping sprees, her love of designer labels, Susan was an ordinary woman who wore ordinary clothes and lived an ordinary lifestyle."

Raymond Majongwe, the Secretary General of the Progress Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, said the mood in Zimbabwe is very sombre and there is just utter disbelief that the man who last year had been chosen by the people to become the country's next President, could have his 'rock' taken away in such a manner and at a time when the inclusive government is very fragile.

Many like Majongwe question why a person of Tsvangirai's status was not given a motorcade or even a helicopter to travel to remote areas, as Robert Mugabe does. "Why should cricket players, soccer players etc be given a motorcade that indicate there is a group of prominent people, but Mr. Tsvangirai - the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe - can just go around the roads of Zimbabwe driving a car that does not even show that there is a very important person in this car?" Majongwe asked.

He visited Mr Tsvangirai in hospital on Friday evening. He said: "It was really terrible to see our person, our man whom we fought with for so long lying on a bed grieving and in pain and the answers are not there."

Majongwe was shocked to see the ZANU PF leadership, including Mugabe and his wife Grace, converge on Mr Tsvangirai in hospital at a time when Tsvangirai was clearly vulnerable and uncomfortable. He said it was uncharacteristic of the regime to behave like this.

"Here is Grace Mugabe, who said at one time Susan will never see the inside of the State House, now she is coming to see the grieving husband of the woman is now late. This is why people become very apprehensive. You don't honestly expect people to understand - you make such a statement and you are the first people to come in to offer sympathy."

But Professor John Makumbe says it's not worrying that the ZANU PF leadership went to visit the Prime Minister. The political commentator said that these people are now working together and "were there by protocol and by our custom as Africans."

However Professor Makumbe said the death of Mrs Tsvangirai would naturally heighten suspicion as "ZANU PF has a bad track record of using traffic accidents to settle scores. So a tragic accident may be viewed as an assassination attempt."

Furthermore he said it does not help to dispel these suspicions when ZANU PF, from the beginning of the inclusive government, has been behaving in bad faith. Makumbe said MDC official Roy Bennett is still in prison and so are other civic and political activities. Others are still missing. "The bad blood between the MDC and ZANU PF still exists. So a thing like this raises more suspicion."

Meanwhile Heather Bennett, the wife of the jailed MDC Deputy Minister of Agriculture designate, said she was shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Mrs Tsvangirai. She said Susan was an amazing woman and very humble, who cared deeply about Zimbabwe. She said although Mrs Tsvangirai was a very private person and didn't like the spotlight on her at all, she was very much involved in charity work and ran a Trust that helped vulnerable groups.

She said: "Behind every successful man is a strong woman and I think Susan was definately a source of strength for Morgan."

Basildon Peta said: "If it was not for her support, it would have been very difficult for Morgan to remain engaged. He once said that the best decision he had made in his life was to marry Susan. Her death is going to devastate him. He's a very strong character, he has felt first-hand the worst that repression can offer, and he bears innumerable scars of his struggle against Mugabe. But this is going to crush him. I just cannot imagine the pain and hurt that he's going to feel, and it is going to make his already difficult task of being Prime Minister even harder."

The Congress of South African Trade Unions has issued a statement saying it is deeply saddened by the tragic news. "We send our condolences to all her family and the people of Zimbabwe, who have suffered a terrible loss. COSATU also sends our best wishes to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for a speedy and full recovery from his injuries, so that he can resume the struggle for a democratic and prosperous country. The federation supports the call for a full investigation into the cause of the accident."