Zimbabwe Blast: President Mnangagwa unhurt after blast at rally

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01:28

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Saturday he narrowly survived an attempt on his life after a blast at a party rally in Zimbabwe's second-largest city Bulawayo. The president said the blast went off just meters from him, and called it a "cowardly act" that would not prevent the country from holding free and peaceful elections. CGTN's Farai Mwakutuya has more from Harare.

FARAI MWAKUTUYA HARARE, ZIMBABWE "An explosion went off near the VIP podium as President Emmerson Mnangagwa was leaving the stage at the end of a campaign rally at White City Stadium in Bulawayo.

He was unhurt but some senior ZANU PF officials including the two vice presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi, as well as party chairperson, Oppah Muchinguri sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at a local hospital.

Investigations into the motives of the attack are ongoing, but President Mnangagwa, in an interview with the state broadcaster, described it an attempt on his life.

President Mnangagwa, who's been in office since ousting his former mentor - Robert Mugabe last November -- has been the target of multiple assassination attempts.

In 2014 his office was broken into and his desk laced with cyanide and in 2017 he was the victim of food poisoning while attending a Mugabe rally.

President Mnangagwa is campaigning to hold onto the presidency in elections that will take place on July 30th. He has repeatedly called for peace ahead of the crucial polls.FM, CGTN, H, Z."