Two deaths after bomb blast at Zimbabwe rally

TWO people injured at the bomb blast on Saturday at a rally addressed by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa have died, according to officials at Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo.

This was later confirmed by Health Minister David Parirenyatwa.

One of those who died had his leg blown off in the blast. So far the names of the dead have not been released, but are believed to have been on official duty from within the security sector when the explosion took place.

A further 47 were injured, and the most serious – including vice president Kembo Mohadi – were airlifted to a private hospital in Harare yesterday. Most of those originally sent to hospitals in Bulawayo have since been discharged.

Mnangagwa, who had addressed a rally at the White City Stadium in Bulawayo, escaped the blast by a few metres after he began to move from the podium following the vote of thanks by Mohadi.

So far no arrests have been made but Mnangagwa has pledged that preparations for elections on July 30 will continue as normal.

This is the first time that a bomb blast has happened at a political rally in Zimbabwe, although there has been considerable violence around some elections for the last 18 years.

All political parties and analysts have condemned the blast. President Cyril Ramaphosa also condemned the incident.