Zimbabwe’s president narrowly escapes explosion at party rally

Zimbabwe’s president narrowly escapes explosion at party rally
Copyright REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo
Copyright REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo
By Pascale Davies
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An explosion rocked a stadium in Zimbabwe where President Emmerson Mnangagwa was addressing a rally on Saturday.

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Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa says elections will go ahead as planned in July, despite what he called an attempt on his life on Saturday. 

Zimbabwean police said on Sunday that 49 people were injured in a blast at a political rally.

The President had been speaking in Zimbabwe's second-largest city of Bulawayo ahead of next month's election.

Mnangagwa was unhurt and said an object "exploded a few inches from me, but it is not my time."

He also said the violence was senseless vowed the elections will be peaceful. 

Footage from Zimbabwe state television showed the explosion took place near Mnangagwa as he left the stage.

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According to a source close to Mnangagwa, the Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and his wife sustained minor injuries.

Mnangagwa had been speaking in Zimbabwe's second-largest city of Bulawayo ahead of next month's election.

The state-owned Herald newspaper also said that the second Vice President Kembo Mohadi and the Environment Minister were also injured in the blast.

President Mnangagwa came into power last November after he ousted Robert Mugabe from office.

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