State security agencies are said to be on high alert in the small town of Esigodini in Umzingwane District where ZANU PF is holding its Annual National People’s Conference.
President Mnangagwa survived two assassination attempts in the recent past. The first was through suspected food poisoning at a rally in Gwanda in 2017. He was subsequently airlifted to South Africa for treatment.
The second attempt was when he narrowly escaped a grenade attack on June 23 this year at a rally in Bulawayo at White City Stadium. The attack left two of Mnangagwa’s two security personnel dead and scores injured.
In an interview with the Daily News Police Commissioner-General, Godwin Matanga said
We deployed our teams there a week ago … and we have the whole area covered.
A Daily News Source had this to say
Both the party and government are on tenterhooks as this conference gets underway because the president has in the recent past had multiple attempts on his life.
As a result, security agents are not leaving anything to chance in Esigodini, remembering that twice now — while he has been in Matabeleland — there have been attempts on his life.
It is for these reasons that his safety is a very big issue to all concerned, and people are advised to behave themselves well at this conference, in their own interest.
It is in this light that elaborate security measures have been put in place to make sure that number one (Mnangagwa) and all the other delegates are safe. Everything there is being scrutinised very closely, from the aircon gas, fluids and food meant for the president and other VIPs.
The security forces have and continue to do all they can to make sure that everyone who is attending the conference is safe.
University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer Eldred Masungure, in an interview with the Daily News, said
This suggests that there are security threats … and I think this is more of enemies within the party because one would expect that as Zanu PF is meeting as a family, security would be relaxed, with delegates interacting freely.
They (security forces) thus want to make sure that people with certain agendas will not succeed. They want to avoid another Bulawayo incident.
Interestingly, we have still not been told about the findings of the Bulawayo incident, which may mean that they have failed to make headway on the matter, or that the issue is sensitive.
Another political analyst, Maxwell Saungweme is of the view that Mnangagwa now suffers from paranoia after the close shave at White City Stadium. He said
It’s in line with ED’s security profile since the White City bombing. He has become more paranoid, necessitating heavy security around him.
Related:
-
ZANU PF Indaba A Godsend, Nuisance For Esigodini Residents As Some Record Brisk Business While Others Live In Fear
-
Heavy Police Presence In Esigodini As ZANU PF Indaba Roars Into Life Today