This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-44619102

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Zimbabwe's Mnangagwa blames Grace Mugabe faction for blast Zimbabwe's Mnangagwa blames Grace Mugabe faction for blast
(about 1 hour later)
The President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, said he suspects a group linked to the former first lady was behind an attempt on his life. Zimbabwe's President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has said he suspects a group linked to the former first lady was behind an attempt on his life.
Two people died and more than 40 were hurt in an explosion near Mr Mnangagwa at a rally in Bulawayo on Saturday.Two people died and more than 40 were hurt in an explosion near Mr Mnangagwa at a rally in Bulawayo on Saturday.
Mr Mnangagwa told the BBC's Fergal Keane that he suspected the G40 group, which supported Grace Mugabe for the presidency, had carried out the attack.Mr Mnangagwa told the BBC's Fergal Keane that he suspected the G40 group, which supported Grace Mugabe for the presidency, had carried out the attack.
Mrs Mugabe's husband, Robert Mugabe, was removed from power last year. Mrs Mugabe's husband, Robert Mugabe, was forced from power last year.
Widespread suspicion that Mrs Mugabe intended to succeed her husband as the country's leader was a contributing factor to the political transition, and the army's involvement in it. The army intervened to oppose Mrs Mugabe's attempt to succeed her husband as the country's leader, and the ruling Zanu-PF party then sacked Mr Mugabe, replacing him with Mr Mnangagwa.
An exiled member of the G40 group, former government minister Jonathan Moyo, has denied Mr Mnangagwa's accusation, tweeting that the blast "smacks of an inside job".
He was referring to an apparent power struggle between Mr Mnangagwa and his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga, the former army chief who forced Mr Mugabe out.
Mr Mnangagwa did not accuse Mrs Mugabe of being involved in the attempt on his life.Mr Mnangagwa did not accuse Mrs Mugabe of being involved in the attempt on his life.
He told the BBC he expects arrests to be made shortly.He told the BBC he expects arrests to be made shortly.
"I don't know whether it was one individual - I would think it is broader than one person. I would think this is a political action by some aggrieved persons," he said."I don't know whether it was one individual - I would think it is broader than one person. I would think this is a political action by some aggrieved persons," he said.
Mr Mnangagwa, then vice-president, and Mrs Mugabe were the two main candidates to succeed the ageing Robert Mugabe as president. 'Soft as wool'
The faction supporting Mrs Mugabe was known as Generation 40 or G40.
Mr Mnangagwa described Mrs Mugabe as someone who had frequently insulted him in the past.Mr Mnangagwa described Mrs Mugabe as someone who had frequently insulted him in the past.
"On what basis would I trust someone who was used by a cabal to say things that had no basis," he said. "On what basis would I trust someone who was used by a cabal to say things that had no basis?" he asked.
Despite the apparent attempt on his life, Mr Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe was stable and that foreign investors should not worry. Nicknamed "the crocodile", Mr Mnangagwa has a reputation of being ruthless, but he told our correspondent: "I am as soft as wool. I am a very soft person in life, my brother. I'm a family person. I am a Christian."
There would be no countrywide security clampdown and elections scheduled for next month would go ahead in a free and fair manner, he said. Despite the apparent attempt on his life, Mr Mnangagwa said there would be no countrywide security clampdown and elections scheduled for 30 July would go ahead in a free and fair manner.
Zimbabwe was stable and that foreign investors should not worry, he said.