- Eyewitnesses said they heard a gunshot, probably from a sniper, at the rally in Bulawayo before a grenade was thrown at where the Zimbabwe president was seated

- Some people were said to have died instantly from the explosion, but the leader who was the clear target of the attack survived

- Investigations have been kicked off into the incident which may have claimed the life of the country's vice president

President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa has survived an attempt on his life by unknown persons, Guardian UK reports. Presidential spokesman George Charamba told The Zimbabwe Herald that investigations were underway, and pointed out that there have been “multiple attempts” on Mnangagwa’s life over the years. 'We have a new chance': Zimbabwe gears up for elections after Mugabe Read more

Footage posted online showed Mnangagwa, 75, waving to the crowd in the White City stadium at about 2pm on Saturday afternoon, turning to step off the podium and walking into the open-sided VIP tent, where seconds later the explosion occurred. The broadcaster, ZBC, later reported that Vice President Kembo Mohadi was injured in the leg and taken to a local hospital. Local media said the vice-president, Kembo Mohadi, had leg injuries, while Constantino Chiwenga, a second vice-president and the former military commander-in-chief, had bruises on his face, the report said. The US Embassy also condemned the attack on Twitter and said "political violence in any form is unacceptable" and contrary to the progress needed to move the country forward and "take its place on the global stage". Six times my office has been broken into; cyanide was put in my offices so many times.”

July’s polls will be the first ballot box test for Mnangagwa, and the first since Mugabe resigned following a brief military takeover in November after 37 years in power.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa survives an apparent assassination attempt when an explosive device detonates at an election campaign rally in Bulawayo. A few bystanders, including Vice-President Kembo Mohadi, suffer minor injuries.