Masvingo – President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s security detail has prompted a last-minute change of venue for the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) graduation ceremony, scheduled for 1 November.
The ceremony, originally planned for the Mashava campus, will now be held at the main campus in Masvingo town. This decision follows a series of recent security incidents involving the President, raising concerns about his safety and prompting heightened security measures, The NewsHawks has reported.
The move to relocate the graduation ceremony stems from serious security concerns raised by Mnangagwa’s security team regarding the Mashava campus location. Sources within the security apparatus revealed to The NewsHawks that the presence of numerous abandoned asbestos mines, now repurposed for artisanal gold and chrome mining, presents a significant security risk. The extensive network of underground tunnels in the Mashava area, coupled with the surrounding mountainous terrain, provides ample opportunity for potential threats, including sabotage or even sniping.
A security source explained the rationale behind the venue change: “The graduation was supposed to be at the Mashava campus, but was moved for security reasons. The area has too many mining tunnels and there are too many mountains and hills around it. It’s a security problem and not safe for the President. After a security assessment the venue has been deemed unsafe for the President.”
This decision comes against a backdrop of escalating security concerns surrounding President Mnangagwa. The recent crash landing of a presidential helicopter upon takeoff from Masvingo Airport, where Mnangagwa had celebrated his 82nd birthday, has further heightened anxieties. This incident follows a pattern of unsettling events, including a mysterious bomb scare that forced the President to abort a landing at Victoria Falls International Airport in March. The following list details these significant security incidents:
- 2018 Bulawayo White City Grenade Attack: A grenade attack occurred at a political rally in Bulawayo’s White City Stadium.
- January 2019 State of Emergency: A state of emergency was declared in response to anti-government protests stemming from economic hardship. According to Mnangagwa’s biography, this event posed a serious threat to his leadership.
- 2021 Sandringham Helicopter Crash Landing: A helicopter carrying President Mnangagwa crash-landed near Sandringham.
- March 2024 Victoria Falls Bomb Scare: A bomb scare forced the President to abort a landing at Victoria Falls International Airport.
- 2024 Masvingo Airport Helicopter Incident: A presidential helicopter crash-landed upon takeoff from Masvingo Airport.
These incidents have created a climate of heightened insecurity and paranoia around the President, influencing decisions regarding his public appearances and security arrangements. The cumulative effect of these events has undoubtedly contributed to the decision to relocate the GZU graduation ceremony. The Mashava campus, with its unique geographical features, was deemed too risky a location to host the President, given the perceived vulnerabilities.
Adding to the heightened security concerns, President Mnangagwa’s recent absence from the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting in New York is noteworthy. For the first time since assuming power in 2017, he skipped the high-profile event, citing a “dense programme” in the final quarter of 2024.
His spokesperson, George Charamba, issued a statement explaining the President’s absence: “In light of a dense programme in the last quarter of 2024, His Excellency the President, Dr E.D. Mnangagwa will not attend this year’s United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA. His Statement will be delivered by Hon. F.M. Shava, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade who is already in New York for the Assembly.”
The UNGA absence is particularly significant given the theme of the summit: “Leaving no One Behind: Acting Together for Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development and Human Dignity for Present and Future Generations.”
This theme, mirroring Mnangagwa’s own favoured mantra, underscores the irony of his absence from an event focused on inclusivity and global cooperation. His decision to skip the UNGA, coupled with the heightened security measures surrounding his public appearances, suggests a growing sense of vulnerability and political insecurity.
The President’s recent birthday celebrations at Great Zimbabwe, where he declared the day “Munhumutapa Day,” a new national holiday, further highlight the political context surrounding these security concerns.
This declaration, with its historical and imperial connotations, has been interpreted by some as a signal of his ambition to extend his rule beyond the constitutionally mandated term limit. This ambition has fueled internal divisions within his ruling party, adding to his political vulnerability.
