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Foreign help urged in blast probe
29 Jun 2018 at 02:58hrs | Views
A GROUP of non-aligned war veterans have called on the government to rope in international forensic investigators to assist local police in probing the explosion that rocked the White City Stadium in Bulawayo last Saturday.
The war veterans groups, known as Non-Partisan Freedom Fighters - and led by Happison Nenji, Parker Chipoyera, Thomas Chitauro, Cyprus Tshuma, Thomson Ndlovu and Godin Moyo, yesterday said failure to come to the root of the matter would risk the country sliding into civil strife.
"We conclude by exhorting the government and authorities responsible for our peace and security to expeditiously commission independent judiciary enquiries," Nenji, nom de guerre Webster Gwauya, said.
"If deemed necessary, government should rope in internationally acclaimed experts to unravel some of these mysteries before we become an anarchic, violent and strife-torn political entity similar to what we have witnessed in countries such as Somalia, Syria and others."
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is believed to be the target of the assassination attempt, escaped unhurt in the attack that killed two presidential aides, injuring one of his deputies Kembo Mohadi, Zanu-PF national chair Oppah Muchinguri and left two dead and about 47 others hospitalised.
Nenji added: "More worrying is the trend whereby each time that we seem to experience such tragic and mysterious events, some of which have resulted in tragedies in which the nation has lost illustrious sons of the soil and leading personalities, the investigations have not been concluded or have dragged on for eternity."
The war veterans said the bombings coming ahead of a crucial poll would undermine the country's democratic processes and portray some degree of political uncertainty and instability in the operating environment.
Police have offered an undisclosed cash reward to anyone with information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators, as Mnangagwa claimed in a BBC interview on Tuesday that he suspected that the attack was engineered by his G40 enemies.
But, constitutional law expert Lovemore Madhuku blasted Mnangagwa saying: "Because the President has fingered a suspect; the police will cover up if evidence leads against a person they think the President doesn't want. It is irresponsible for the President to have said that. It makes the work of the police difficult."
Political analyst Phillan Zamchiya also said Mnangagwa's "reckless accusations" could expose innocent citizens perceived or associated with G40 to barbaric and unruly "revenge" attacks from Zanu-PF extremists.
"This would be a self-destructive path. It will backfire and trigger an ignominious end to his political career," Zamchiya said.
The war veterans groups, known as Non-Partisan Freedom Fighters - and led by Happison Nenji, Parker Chipoyera, Thomas Chitauro, Cyprus Tshuma, Thomson Ndlovu and Godin Moyo, yesterday said failure to come to the root of the matter would risk the country sliding into civil strife.
"We conclude by exhorting the government and authorities responsible for our peace and security to expeditiously commission independent judiciary enquiries," Nenji, nom de guerre Webster Gwauya, said.
"If deemed necessary, government should rope in internationally acclaimed experts to unravel some of these mysteries before we become an anarchic, violent and strife-torn political entity similar to what we have witnessed in countries such as Somalia, Syria and others."
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is believed to be the target of the assassination attempt, escaped unhurt in the attack that killed two presidential aides, injuring one of his deputies Kembo Mohadi, Zanu-PF national chair Oppah Muchinguri and left two dead and about 47 others hospitalised.
Nenji added: "More worrying is the trend whereby each time that we seem to experience such tragic and mysterious events, some of which have resulted in tragedies in which the nation has lost illustrious sons of the soil and leading personalities, the investigations have not been concluded or have dragged on for eternity."
The war veterans said the bombings coming ahead of a crucial poll would undermine the country's democratic processes and portray some degree of political uncertainty and instability in the operating environment.
Police have offered an undisclosed cash reward to anyone with information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators, as Mnangagwa claimed in a BBC interview on Tuesday that he suspected that the attack was engineered by his G40 enemies.
But, constitutional law expert Lovemore Madhuku blasted Mnangagwa saying: "Because the President has fingered a suspect; the police will cover up if evidence leads against a person they think the President doesn't want. It is irresponsible for the President to have said that. It makes the work of the police difficult."
Political analyst Phillan Zamchiya also said Mnangagwa's "reckless accusations" could expose innocent citizens perceived or associated with G40 to barbaric and unruly "revenge" attacks from Zanu-PF extremists.
"This would be a self-destructive path. It will backfire and trigger an ignominious end to his political career," Zamchiya said.
Source - newsday
