Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa caught in airport bomb scare: KQ flights diverted
Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been forced to suspend a local trip to the Victoria Falls in the wake of a reported bomb at the Victoria Falls International Airport.
The incident, which was confirmed by authorities and is under investigations, is reported to have affected a number of flights, including a Kenya Airways Flight from Nairobi.
Kenya Airways are yet to comment on the incident.
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Local media reported Mnangagwa, 81, was expected at the closing ceremony of a conference taking place at the resort town.
The bomb incident forced a chance in plans however, after authorities received an email sent through Fastjet Airlines by an unknown individual indicating there had been credible bomb/firearm threat targeting Zimbabwean airports.
“As a precaution, the country’s security systems are now on heightened alert following this message who source and credibility is also being investigated,” said presidential spokesperson George Charamba in a statement.
“While our country is peaceful, and all our ports are well secured, such alerts on possible terrorist attacks are taken and treated very seriously, as nothing should be left to chance”.
In an earlier report, ZimLive reported that “Aircraft failing to land at Victoria Falls”.
This included a Kenyan Airways flight from Nairobi forced to hold for several minutes before diverting to Livingstone.
Separate reports suggest the airport has temporarily been shut down.
Some passengers had been barred from disembarking as authorities investigated the threat.
Nicknamed the crocodile, Mnangagwa survived a bomb blast at White City Stadium in 2018 in what was interpreted by authorities as an assassination attempt.
Two security details later succumbed to injuries days later.
Currently serving his second term, Mnangagwa assumed power in 2017 after a bloodless coup against his boss Robert Mugabe.
He has defeated youthful opposition leader Nelson Chamisa in two elections.
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