admin
Political Editor
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday condemned the assassination attempt on United States Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, describing the violent attack, which led to loss of life, as both “cowardly” and “tragic”.
President Mnangagwa told his American counterpart Joe Biden, who will face Mr Trump in the US presidential elections on November 5, that Zimbabwe received the news of the attack with both “shock” and “revulsion”.
The impending US elections have been characterised by violence, extremism and polarisation, culminating in the assassination attempt on Mr Trump, who joins a list of 16 US presidential candidates who have survived assassination attempts.
In total, four sitting US presidents have been killed namely, Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley and John F Kennedy.
On Saturday last week, Mr Trump was shot by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, in the latest violent episode that has been a characteristic of the US and which also extends to assassinations of congressmen, governors, mayors, unionists, civil rights activists and other prominent politicians.
Although Mr Trump survived the assassination attempt, with a bullet grazing his ear, just inches from his head, three other men attending the rally, that was being held in the town of Butler in the State of Pennsylvania, were not so lucky.
One died, and two others were seri- ously injured, and are battling for their lives because of the political violence.
In his statement, President Mnangagwa described the attack as “cowardly”.
“Zimbabwe followed the news of the attack on the former United States President and presumptive Republican Party Presidential Candidate, Mr Donald Trump, with shock and revulsion.
“On behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and indeed on my own behalf, I wish to extend to you, my heartfelt sympathy and condemnation of the cowardly attack, which also led to loss of life,” he said. The President said Zimbabwe stands with the people of the United States following the attack.
“We stand in solidarity with the Government and people of the United States in the wake of this unfortunate and tragic development.
“We wish the former President and the others who were injured, speedy recovery, and express our condolences to the fam- ily of the deceased. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
The 2024 US presidential election will be held on November 5, 2024, with Mr Trump slugging it out with the Democratic Party’s presumptive candidate Biden, who is the incumbent.
Mr Trump has received enough votes at the Republican National Convention to become the party’s official presidential nominee.
At the same time, Mr Biden is still expected to be the Democrats’ presiden- tial nominee despite increasing pressure and scrutiny over questions of his mental fitness and ability to carry out the job.
Online Reporter