HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa wore a bulletproof vest to the opening of a clinic in Harare on Thursday, pictures reveal.
Mnangagwa delivered a World Population Day speech at the official opening of Hopley Clinic and Youth Centre, built with support from the United Nations Population Fund, the International Labour Organisation, Harare City Health Department and Larfarge Cement.
Mnangagwa, who was accompanied by Health Minister Obadiah Moyo and his finance counterpart Mthuli Ncube, wore a suit to the event, but a clear outline of a bulletproof vest was visible.
The 76-year-old, who came to power through a military coup in November 2017, has survived at least one assassination attempt after a grenade was lobbed at him in June last year, killing two aides and wounding at least 44 people.
His shaky hold on power forced him, in February this year, to change his security details. Mnangagwa is now employing Air Force bodyguards after replacing soldiers from the Presidential Guard. His security protocols now require senior government officials who would sit near him to go through scanners while his tent is now pitched far away from crowds.
As Zimbabwe’s economic crisis worsens and public anger rises, Mnangagwa must be concerned by multiple threats to his rule. His security forces have arrested dozens of people and charged them with treason over alleged plots to topple him.
Within Zanu PF, Mnangagwa is also said to be facing a rebellion from loyalists of his deputy, retired general Constantino Chiwenga, who say he has failed to run the country and placed their futures in grave danger with the growing threat of public uprisings.
Mnangagwa won a controversial election in July last year, avoiding a run-off by just over 30,000 votes. His main rival Nelson Chamisa of the MDC maintains that the election result was manipulated, and has refused to recognise him as the legitimate leader.
