By Own Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday sent messages of condolences to the families of his two security aides, who died due to injuries sustained during a bomb explosion that occurred at White City Stadium in Bulawayo on Saturday.

The blast, which occurred just as President Mnangagwa was leaving the podium left more than 45 people injured including some senior party cadres including Vice President Kembo Mohadi.

Mnangagwa who escaped the explosion unhurt described the attack as a cowardly act of terror.

Said Mnangagwa in a statement:

“This cowardly terrorist attack at a public political meeting was indiscriminate and calculated to achieve a bloodbath which is hard to fathom.

Above all, it sought to subvert the will of the people of Zimbabwe by attempting to destabilise the ongoing electoral programme, which our entire nation wishes to see unfold in an environment of perfect peace, all for a free, fair and credible electoral outcome, which we have pledged to ourselves and to the rest of the world.

These merchants of terror must not be allowed to succeed or to stop the march of democracy, economic recovery and national progress which our people deserve.”

President Mnangagwa revealed that the government would meet all funeral and burial expenses, as well as medical costs for the more than 40 people who were also injured in the explosion.

The statement comes amid revelations by the State security agencies that they had not yet established the source of the explosion, with the stadium still sealed off.

“The investigations are still ongoing, and no arrests have been made,” National Police Spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said.

The ZRP has also issued a statement appealing to members of the public to assist them solve the mystery behind the explosion which mostly believe was an assassination attempt on the country’s first citizen.

An undisclosed reward is being offered to anyone who can lead to the apprehension of the perpetrators of the act which claimed two lives and left dozens others injured and maimed for life.

In a related development, a funeral parade for one of the deceased aides, Sergeant Kudakwashe Mugunzva was held at the Presidential Guard Barracks in Dzivarasekwa on Wednesday morning. Mugunzva is survived by wife Prisca and four children.