Days after a blast at an election rally attended by Zimbabwe’s President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, police are yet to identify a motive for it.
On Sunday police said they have launched a search for a motive for the explosion that injured 49 people.
The blast occurred at a stadium where President Mnangagwa was addressing a rally ahead of next month’s presidential elections.
Act of terrorism
The Vice President Constantino Chiwenga had said that Saturday’s blast is a “terrorist act”.
“The police will hunt down the criminals. They will be hunted down and they will be brought before the law,” Chiwenga told another campaign rally in capital Harare.
Local media reports that a number of security personnel were also injured in the blast.
Footage from Zimbabwe state television had shown the explosion taking place near Mnangagwa as he waved to supporters.
Among those injured is Chiwenga’s wife who was visited in hospital by Mnangagwa.
Potential motive?
Zimbabwe’s national police spokeswoman Charity Charamba says police are looking for leads.
Charamba says a “substantial reward” is on offer for possible information on those behind the explosion.
Mnangagwa became president after the military led by his current vice, Chiwenga took control of the country then led by Robert Mugabe.
Former President Mugabe has condemned the entire incident which led to his resignation last year.
Elections to go ahead
Zimbabwe is expected to hold presidential election on July 30. The main contenders are Mnangagwa, 75 and 40-year-old Nelson Chamisa who leads the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
Despite the blast, the government says the polls will happen as planned.
Next month elections will be the first without Robert Mugabe’s involvement since 1980 when he led them to gain independence.
Source: Africafeeds.com
