There was a bomb explosion during a rally addressed by President ED Mnangagwa on Saturday afternoon, 23 June 2018 at a crammed White city stadium in the second capital city of Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. ED Mnangagwa managed to escape unscathed.
In what is believed to be an assassination attempt on President Mnangagwa, his aides; deputy Kembo Mohadi; ruling party chairperson, Oppah muchinguri-Kashiri who is also a cabinet minister suffered injuries; and Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga and his spouse Mary Chiwenga suffered minor injuries. 41 people were also injured.
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Before the blast occurred near a stage at the stadium, Mnangagwa had addressed a rally of his Zanu-PF party. Mnangagwa and Chiwenga were hurtled to Bulawayo State House ,where they took refuge. The military and the Red Cross Society evacuated an unstated number of injured civilians to the Mater Dei and Mpilo hospitals in the city.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba was quoted by the state media as saying:
Investigations are under way and more details will be given to the public. There have been multiple attempts on president’s life over the past five years.
The footage from Zimbabwe state television displayed the explosion took place in proximity to Mnangagwa as he waved to the ecstatic crowd. He was speaking at his initial rally in Bulawayo, an opposition citadel where the ruling Zanu-PF has not won a national election since 2000.
See also: Mnangagwa in Gwanda, Matebeleland South for presidential rally.
The President was later spotted in pictures circulating on social media visiting Dr Chiwenga’s wife and others in hospital.
The assassins have failed again to kill His Excellency,Cde President ED Mnangagwa.Thank you Lord. The President is now visiting injured Cdes hospitalized at Mater Dei Hospital. Get well soon injured Cdes. Violence will not stop our impending free and fair victory on 30 July 2018! pic.twitter.com/PTxQsCuRAl
— Jones Musara (@JonesMusara) June 23, 2018
Zimbabwe had its last blasts at rallies in 1980s, which had targeted the 94 year-old former erudite statesman and autocrat RG Mugabe.
Zimbabwe will hold its first post-Mugabe presidential plebiscite on 30 July.
Emmerson Mnangagwa(75) and Advocate Nelson Chamisa(40) the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change are the main and colossal contenders in these coming harmonised elections.
The world is watching and waiting to see the outcome of this first elections since Mugabe’s downfall after a de facto military coup last November.
The previous elections were impaired with and inundated by violence against opposition members by Zanu-PF fans but the run-up to this year’s vote has been largely peaceful.
Mnangagwa who is famous for his mantra of preaching peace, love, unity and forgiveness, has promised a free and fair vote.
Speaking on the State Broadcaster, Saturday night; Mnangagwa put the blame for the explosion on his enemies, saying he was the target of the attack.
the device exploded a few inches away from me – but it is not my time These are my mortal enemies and the attempts have been so many.
It’s not the first attempt [on] my life. I’m used to it. Six times my office has been broken into; cyanide was put in my offices so many times. I will continue.
Let us continue to be united and address our differences peacefully. The strongest response to violence is peace. The strongest response to hate is love. God Bless Zimbabwe
— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) June 23, 2018