A bomb threat prompted the closure of Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe on Friday, leading President Edson Mnangagwa to cancel his scheduled address at a renewable energy conference, according to an official statement.
President Mnangagwa was set to speak at the conference in the morning, but due to the bomb scare, he “had to suspend his trip to allow for investigations which are already underway,” explained presidential spokesperson George Charamba.
Although local media speculated that the president’s plane reversed course while en route to the conference, authorities were unable to confirm this detail.
Charamba revealed that airport officials received information from Fastjet airline regarding an email sent by an anonymous sender, “John Doe,” indicating a “credible bomb/firearm threat” directed at Zimbabwe’s airports.
Charamba emphasized that security measures are now at an increased level, urging the public to remain calm during the ongoing investigations.
He highlighted the seriousness with which potential terrorist threats are treated, even though the country is generally peaceful and its entry points are well secured.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe reported that the incident resulted in the diversion or delay of some flights, and further disruptions were anticipated for continuous environmental monitoring.
While such incidents are uncommon in southern African nations, it’s worth noting that in 2018, an explosion in Zimbabwe’s second-largest city, Bulawayo, during a campaign rally ahead of the presidential election, resulted in two fatalities and around 50 injuries.
President Mnangagwa, who narrowly escaped harm, witnessed the blast at close proximity. Although two individuals were initially arrested in connection with the explosion, they were later released due to insufficient evidence.
