Harare – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has ordered a comprehensive investigation into a series of security breaches targeting him and his family, including the reopening of the stalled probe into the 2018 grenade attack at White City Stadium that nearly claimed his life. The move, seen by some as a sign of growing paranoia within the ruling Zanu PF party, comes amidst a string of incidents that have rattled the president and his inner circle, ZimLive has reported.
Mnangagwa, currently serving his second and final term, has expressed deep concern over his personal safety, particularly after a recent spate of security breaches involving his family. The 81-year-old president has instructed police chief Godwin Matanga to leave no stone unturned in identifying the perpetrators, convinced that the incidents are interconnected.
“He wants answers from the security arms of the state, starting with unravelling what happened at White City,” revealed a source privy to the developments.
The White City Stadium attack, which occurred during a Zanu PF rally in 2018, sent shockwaves through the country. Two Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) agents were killed and 47 others, including Vice President Kembo Mohadi and Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri, were injured. The grenade, lobbed at the VIP tent as Mnangagwa exited the stage, narrowly missed the president, ricocheting off a tent mounting and changing direction, according to witnesses.
Mnangagwa, who has previously claimed to know the identity of those behind the attack, has now ordered a renewed investigation, highlighting his determination to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Adding to the president’s anxieties are a series of recent incidents, including the targeting of his aircraft on July 12th. As Mnangagwa’s plane was returning from Mozambique, individuals attempted to blind the pilots using lasers as the aircraft approached Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
Just days prior, bizarre break-ins occurred at the private homes of the president and his son, Deputy Finance Minister David Mnangagwa, as well as the government office of his nephew, Deputy Tourism Minister Tongai Mnangagwa.
These incidents, coupled with a March bomb scare at Victoria Falls International Airport, where Mnangagwa was forced to abort landing due to an emailed threat from someone signing off as “John Doe,” have fuelled a sense of unease within the president’s inner circle.
Following the Victoria Falls incident, police arrested a South African man found with bullets in his backpack, but he was later released when no link to the email threat could be established.
Coincidentally, the fresh probe comes barely a few days after President Mnangagwa condemned the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump. Mnangagwa expressed solidarity with the American people and revulsion at the attack on Trump, highlighting the dangers faced by political figures in a world increasingly marked by intolerance and violence.
“Zimbabwe followed the news of the attack on the former United States of America President and presumptive Republican Party Presidential Candidate, Mr. Donald Trump, with shock and revulsion,” President Mnangagwa said in a statement. “On behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and indeed on my own behalf, I wish to extend to you, my heartfelt sympathy and condemnation of the cowardly attack, which also led to loss of life,” he added.
In a bid to address the growing security concerns, Mnangagwa has ordered the establishment of a special task force to investigate all the incidents and determine if there is a connection. Detectives from Harare Central Police Station’s Law and Order section have been tasked with coordinating the investigation, working closely with other security agencies.
The police, meanwhile, have released a picture of a man they suspect to be involved in the White City grenade attack. However, they have deceptively claimed that he is wanted for fraud involving US$300,000 and are offering a US$10,000 reward for positive identification.
ZimLive reported that the man’s picture was distributed to all police stations in 2018 and 2019, but he was never positively identified. The police also published the image in the state-run Chronicle newspaper, claiming the man was being sought by a desperate relative.
The man was identified as a potential suspect after investigators reviewed hours of video footage from different news organisations, which allegedly showed the man changing clothing, including his cap and T-shirt.
The president’s decision to reopen the White City investigation and establish a special task force to investigate the recent security breaches has sparked debate. Some analysts believe that the move is a necessary step to ensure the president’s safety and address the growing security concerns. Regardless of the motivations behind the president’s actions, the recent security breaches have cast a shadow over Zimbabwe’s political landscape.
