PRESIDENT MOURNS BLAST VICTIMS:

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has sent a message to the families of four workers who died following an explosion at the Grain Marketing Board’s Lion’s Den depot on Tuesday, expressing his deepest condolences.

Three other workers were seriously injured after a massive explosion, whose cause is still unknown, rocked the GMB’s Lion’s Den depot in Mashonaland West province.

In his condolence message, President Mnangagwa said he learnt with deep sadness of the death of the four workers as a result of the explosion.

He said he had since instructed relevant arms of Government to ensure that proper assistance was extended to all those affected by the explosion.

“The four died in the line of duty as they sought to secure our Strategic Grain Reserves stored at many sites which include Lion’s Den,” said President Mnangagwa.

“Whilst investigations are still underway, initial indications point to a possible electrical fault, exacerbated by combustible gasses in tunnels which, sadly, may have caused the fatal explosion which trapped the four.

“On behalf of the party, ZANU-PF, Government and on my own behalf, I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to the families, which have lost their loved ones. May the souls of the four departed rest in eternal peace.

“In the same vein, I wish speedy recovery to all those injured in the valiant rescue efforts that followed the explosion. The nation applauds these brave souls who put their own lives at risk in a bid to help the trapped workers.”

President Mnangagwa said he had directed that all silos in the country immediately undergo safety checks and that necessary remedial and preventive measures be promptly undertaken and instituted to avert any such mishap now and in the future.

The blast was so powerful that it ripped through reinforced concrete structures, causing a fire.

Government activated specialised investigations as State agencies, including the police forensic department and the bomb disposal unit, to comb through the debris of the blast for clues to its cause.

- (Picture by Memory Mangombe) German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Dr Gerd Muller (left) and his delegation pays a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa at his Munhumutapa offices in Harare yesterday.