Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa says allies of former first lady Grace Mugabe may have tried killing him.
Last Saturday Mr. Mnangagwa escaped unhurt in a blast at a political rally in Bulawayo.
The blast occurred at a stadium where the President was addressing a rally ahead of next month’s presidential elections.
Two people died from injuries with several others also reported to have sustained life threatening injuries.
Footage from Zimbabwe state television had shown the explosion taking place near Mnangagwa as he waved to supporters.
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.
But Mnangagwa told the BBC in an interview that he suspects a group linked to Grace Mugabe was behind the explosion.
“I don’t know whether it was one individual – I would think it is broader than one person. I would think this is a political action by some aggrieved persons,” he said.
The G40 Group
Members of the said G40 group or Generation 40 supported Grace Mugabe for the presidency. It led to a clash between Mnangagwa and Grace Mugabe shortly before her husband was forced to exit power.
Both Mnangagwa and Grace Mugabe were rivals for the Presidency.
President Mnangawa said “On what basis would I trust someone who was used by a cabal to say things that had no basis.”
No security crackdown
President Mnangagwa also said that he does not intend imposing a countrywide security clampdown ahead of next month’s elections.
He has however promised that those behind the blast will be uncovered and punished describing their action as criminal.
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
