Mnangagwa says merchants of terror must not be allowed to stop the march towards economic recovery and national progress

President Emmerson Mnangagwa today paid condolences to the two security officers who died following an explosion at White City Stadium in Bulawayo at the weekend and said the merchants of terror, behind the attack, must never be allowed to succeed, let alone stop the march of democracy, economic recovery and national progress which the people of Zimbabwe deserve.

Forty-nine people were injured in the blast including the two who later died in hospital.

Mnangagwa said the “cowardly terrorist attack” at a public gathering was hard to fathom.

“It sought to subvert the will of the people of Zimbabwe by attempting to destabilize the ongoing electoral programme which our entire nation wishes to see unfold in an environment of perfect peace, all for a free, fair and credible electoral outcome which we have pledged to ourselves and to the rest of the world,” Mnangagwa said.

“Today Zimbabwe mourns this needless loss of her two brave sons whose lives have been lost in the line of duty.  We mourn with their heartbroken families who now have to bury their otherwise fit beloved ones, except for this heinous act.”

Mnangagwa said Zimbabweans must emphatically denounce violence and terrorism of any kind and form and commit themselves to peaceful, free and fair elections which are scheduled for next month.

“These merchants of terror must never be allowed to succeed, let alone stop the march of democracy, economic recovery and national progress which our people deserve,” he said.

“On behalf of the party, ZANU-PF, government, my family and on my own behalf, I tender my deepest condolences to families of the deceased officers. As I do so, I wish all those caught up in the terror attack speedy recovery.

“Government is already taking comprehensive steps and measures to ensure that peace endures in our whole Nation.”

Several theories about the attack are being floated including one that this was an inside job.

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