How the attack on Emmerson Mnangagwa backfired

Emmerson Mnangagwa’s path to the presidency has earned him no shortage of enemies. His succession alienated many within his Zanu PF party, not least the Mugabe stalwarts who had stood by their man for 37 years. As if that was not enough, Zimbabwe’s president is also facing competition from his former colleagues and subordinates in the junta, in particular from General Chiwenga, his vice president. In this complex tussle for power, Mnangagwa is doing his best to hold things together while addressing his country’s growing economic and social problems and rebuilding international and regional relations that were left in tatters by his predecessor. What’s more, Mnangagwa also has to fight an election later this month in which he is facing competition from 23 candidates who are after his job.

It seems that some of his rivals aren’t only trying to bring to an end Mnangagwa’s political career, though; they are also trying to kill him. In the midst of a rally at White City Stadium in the City of Bulawayo last weekend, a grenade was detonated. Mnangagwa