The Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ) has tightened security at the Victoria Falls International Airport to ensure the safety of passengers and its staff.
This comes after Fastjet Airline on Friday, 01 March notified authorities of an email that it received from one John Doe claiming a credible bomb/firearm threat to Zimbabwean airports.
Following the warning, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s flight aborted its landing in Victoria Falls where he was scheduled to address a business conference.
A 26-year-old South African national, Cuan Reed Govender, was arrested and later fined US$300 after he was found in possession of some bullets at the Robert Mugabe International Airport on the day the email from John Doe referring to bombs was sent.
The following day (02 March), a 36-year-old Malaysian national, Lucy Kabethi Wanjiku was arrested at the Victoria Falls International Airport after she was found in possession of a live bullet.
In a statement to stakeholders, Victoria Falls Airport’s acting airport manager Vupenyu Shava, said:
<blockquote>
In response to a bomb and firearm threat that was received on 1 March 2024, the Airports Company of Zimbabwe Private Limited has deemed it necessary to take immediate action to ensure the safety and security of both passengers and airport personnel.
Consequently, the company has decided to implement heightened security measures to level three (3), which is significantly higher than the normal baseline level.
These additional measures have been put in place to mitigate any potential risks to create a secure environment within the airport premises.
</blockquote>
Only travelling passengers and airport staff are allowed into the terminal building and there will be strict access control at the Main Entrance, with all staff required to display passes at all times.
Shava said the front drop-off and pick-up zone of the International Terminal Building would also be temporarily sealed off.
He said there would be a secondary screening of passengers at the Boarding Gate, a physical search of all checked baggage and increased police presence in the Terminal Building.
Shava said no unaccompanied and mishandled baggage will be allowed while passenger luggage should be shrink-wrapped after physical searches have been carried out.
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Security Tightened At Victoria Falls Airport

A 25-year-old South African national has been fined US$300 by the Harare Magistrates Court for unlawful possession of ammunition.
Cuan Reed Govender was arrested at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on Friday, 01 March where he intended to catch an Airlink flight to South Africa.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said Govender was arrested by the police after they searched his baggage and found 5 live rounds of ammunition. The NPA said:
<blockquote>
Cuan Reed Govender aged 25 from Durban South Africa, was sentenced today at the Harare Magistrates Court for unlawful possession of ammunition.
He was arrested at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on Friday the 1st of March 2024 when live rounds of ammunition were detected in his luggage by the baggage scanner.
The Police searched his baggage and found 5 live rounds of ammunition. The accused had intended to board an Airlink flight to South Africa.
The court ordered the accused person to pay a fine of USD300.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications) George Charamba on Monday, 04 March claimed Govender was the anonymous “John Doe”, who sent a bomb/firearm alert to FastJet alleging a plan to attack Zimbabwe’s airports, particularly Victoria Falls International Airport last Friday. He wrote on X:
<blockquote>
In the interests of ongoing operations, we leave it at that for now. We thank Zimbabweans for remaining calm while operations are underway. We hope to reach closure very soon.
</blockquote>
The email sent to Fastjet by “John Doe” resulted in the temporary closure of the Victoria Falls International Airport on Friday.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa was forced to abandon a trip to Victoria Falls mid-flight after authorities were warned of a “credible bomb or firearm threat” following the email.
Reports indicate that X-ray scanners detected five bullets in Govender’s blue bag he carried to the airport.
He reportedly told detectives that the bag was the one he used when going to the shooting range after buying a gun to defend himself, adding that he must have forgotten to remove the bullets.
Govender was taken to the Harare Magistrates Court on 02 March where he appeared without a lawyer before magistrate Sharon Rakafa.
He returned to the court yesterday, 04 March, where he was fined US$300 for unlawful possession of ammunition.
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"John Doe" Fined US$300 By A Harare Magistrate

The Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ) says the country’s airports are now operating normally after the Victoria Falls International Airport was closed briefly on Friday due to security concerns.
The country’s security systems were put on high alert yesterday in response to reports of a bomb or firearm threat targeting the country’s airports.
This was after Fastjet Airlines forwarded an e-mail message to Zimbabwean authorities which originated from one “John Doe” who claimed to have credible information that a bomb or firearm threat was targeting Zimbabwean airports.
However, speaking to <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/airports-operating-normally-after-bomb-firearms-threat/">The Herald</a> last night ACZ chief executive officer Tawanda Gusha said security services have taken all precautions at airports to ensure safe travel. He said:
<blockquote>
(The) airports are operating including the Victoria Falls International Airport.
We want to assure our stakeholders and all those using airports that the security services have taken all precautions to ensure that the travelling public is safe.
</blockquote>
In an earlier statement yesterday, the Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications), George Charamba, said President Emmerson Mnangagwa had cancelled a trip to Victoria Falls following the bomb or firearm threat.
He said security services were investigating the source and credibility of the “John Doe” email.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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