Harare: Zimbabwe’s ruling party Zanu PF youths have vowed to sacrifice their lives acting as human shields to protect President Emmerson Mnangagwa who survived an “assassination attempt” on Saturday.
An explosion went off after Mnangagwa had left the podium following his addressing to thousands of party faithfuls in Bulawayo, the country’s second city.
Two victims of the blast have died, while several others are still admitted in hospital.
“From now onwards we offer ourselves as a human shield to our President, to the leadership and to the people of Zimbabwe.
“We know that they are targeting our President, they want to kill him,” Zanu PF youth league leader Pupurai Togarepi told journalists at a press conference.
“All members of the youth league are called upon to defend the President and we will defend him with our lives in all circumstances.”
Mnangagwa has remained steadfast that the July 30 harmonised elections will go ahead as planned following the terror attack.
Police are yet to make any arrests.
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the bomb attack and called “for the perpetrators to be brought to justice”.
