No deaths recorded: Health Minister

Vincent Gono, Features editor
A TOTAL of 41 people including senior politicians sustained varying degrees of injuries in a blast that rocked White City Stadium in Bulawayo yesterday afternoon soon after President Mnangagwa had finished addressing a Zanu-PF campaign rally and was leaving the venue.

Among the injured are Vice-President Kembo Mohadi, Zanu-PF national chairperson Cde Oppah Muchinguri- Kashiri and Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s wife Mary Chiwenga.

President Mnangagwa was unhurt in the incident.

Minister of Health and Child Care Dr David Parirenyatwa confirmed the figure to Sunday News last night, adding that no deaths had been recorded.

He said the injured were receiving treatment at Mpilo Central Hospital, United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) and Mater Dei and was quick to say they would have a consolidated figure today as some who had gone home after the rally were coming in complaining of injuries.

“We have 25 people at Mpilo, 12 at Mater Dei and four at UBH giving us a total of 41 who have so far approached our health institutions complaining of injuries. Some had, however, previously gone home and later discovered that they wanted to be assisted and are coming in. We will therefore have a consolidated figure tomorrow (today) but so far that is the figure we have. We have no fatalities so far,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.

Asked about the degree of injuries sustained, Dr Parirenyatwa said some of the people required serious surgery while some sustained minor injuries.

“Some require serious surgery and I think these are the ones who were close to where the blast occurred but some are not serious. Some can be treated and discharged,” he added. President Mnangagwa visited the injured at hospitals yesterday evening where he offered words of comfort.

Meanwhile, Officer Commanding Police in Bulawayo Province Senior Assistant Commissioner Learn Ncube said they have already launched investigations into the incident and urged people to give heed to the President’s continuous calls for peace.

“We urge the generality of people to give heed to His Excellency the President of Zimbabwe’s continuous calls for peace. We have started investigations into the issue where so far a number of people have been injured. We will leave no stone unturned and we urge members of the public to come forth and assist us in our investigations,” he said.