ZANU PF youths and war veterans yesterday sensationally
claimed that the fatal explosion that killed two State security agents and
injured 47 party members during a campaign rally in Bulawayo on Saturday was an
inside job, involving members of the vanquished G40 faction.
Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association
(ZNLWVA) spokesperson Douglas Mahiya said they suspected that the attack could
have been engineered by members of the G40 faction who remained in government
and top party structures following former President Robert Mugabe’s ouster last
November.
The faction, some of whose members have morphed into the
opposition National Patriotic Front, was viciously opposed to then
Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s (pictured) bid to take over from Mugabe.
“War veterans demand that the culprits be brought to book.
The evil political machinations of G40 and enemies of the Zimbabwean revolution
cannot be ruled out as suspects. We also don’t rule out the evil acts as an
inside job, time will tell,” Mahiya said.
He said while the association condemned the attack, they
wanted police to release information on the attacks.
“The ZNLWVA condemns in the strongest terms the barbaric,
cowardly acts of terrorism in the Bulawayo bombing. War veterans will always
remember this and continue to demand more information and that our national
security will go to the bottom of the matter,” he said.
Zanu PF youth league secretary Pupurai Togarepi told
journalists in Harare that they also suspected “enemies surrounding Mnangagwa”
as responsible for the Saturday attack.
“So as war veterans are saying and as any other Zimbabwean
will think, maybe it could be those elements who used to enjoy things that they
can’t enjoy now because we have a straight forward President. So they may be
tempted to kill him to create instability. I can’t give you the list of my
suspects, it’s so long, but I am hurt,” he said.
The youth league leader came short of naming names, but
indicated that it could have been an inside job which could involve people
around Mnangagwa, who used to enjoy huge benefits in Mugabe’s era.
Togarepi also called on his charges to provide a human
shield to the party’s top leadership.
“The terrain features have changed so has our approach
going forward. We are not going to tolerate behaviour that is suspicious, from
today onwards. As the youth league, we stand to defend the revolution, to
defend our leadership … from now onwards we offer ourselves as a human shield,
to our President, to our leadership to the people of Zimbabwe. We know they are
targeting our President, they want to maim, kill him, but that will mean
disaster for our future as the youth. So from today onwards, all members of the
youth league are called upon to defend the President, and we will defend him
with our lives in all circumstances, wherever he is we shall be, and when he
falls and if he is to be killed by anybody, that person should kill all of us,”
he said.
During Mugabe’s days, members of the State security used to
enjoy lofty benefits in the form of travel and subsistence allowances which
were paid in hard currency, as they accompanied the 94-year-old former leader
to various foreign trips. At times they would travel outside the country for
more than four times a month.
Home Affairs minister Obert Mpofu yesterday condemned the
incident while addressing delegates at an event where several parties signed a
peace pledge ahead of next month’s polls.
“We are all aware of the sad incident in Bulawayo, and such
barbaric acts cannot be condoned and cannot be a precedent for elections. One
of my sons was affected by that explosion, and yesterday I visited those
injured including Vice-President Kembo Mohadi, and we cannot condone this evil
deed,” he said.
“There is also a tendency to capitalise on the affected
families when in fact you have not experienced violence yourself. I actually
have experienced violence before independence and some violence after
independence, and we feel that as leaders that should not be our
pre-occupation.
“Even those proponents of past incidents that have occurred
around the country have not been where some of us have been because we come
from those areas. I am from there, but I never talk about things that would
create emotions amongst our people.”
Speaking at the same event, Zimbabwe Human Rights
Commission chairperson Elasto Mugwadi condemned the Bulawayo incident,
describing it as a “senseless act’’.
“The senseless act that happened last Saturday ought to be
unreservedly condemned by all peace-loving Zimbabweans. In protecting human
rights, we all need to respect the sanctity of life. It is an appeal to all
political parties that as we approach July 30, we should all try to control our
emotions, and abhor hate speech and provocative sloganeering,” he said.
Meanwhile, the 43rd Plenary Assembly Session of the Sadc
Parliamentary Forum (Sadc PF) got underway in Luanda with Angolan President
Joao Lourenco denouncing suspected bomb attacks at White City Stadium.
Officially opening the Sadc PF Plenary Session on Monday,
Lourenco said the attack was “cowardly, criminal and undemocratic”.
Lourenco said the attacks in Bulawayo and Addis Ababa
Ethiopia — where Prime Minister Abiy was addressing supporters in Meskel Square
when an explosion ripped through the crowd killing two people, and leaving 156
injured — were meant to undermine efforts that are ongoing toward holding
democratic elections, particularly in Zimbabwe.
China also condemned the attack.
“The Chinese government strongly condemns the political
violence perpetuated at the White City Stadium in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and wishes
to express its sincere condolences to the relatives of the deceased,” the
Chinese government said in a statement.
“China sincerely hopes that the forthcoming harmonised
elections in Zimbabwe will be held in a smooth and peaceful manner and Zimbabwe
will continuously maintain stability and achieve continued development and
prosperity on its way forward.” Newsday
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