Deeply concerned Mnangagwa cancels UN trip and FIRES top bodyguard as his helicopter crashes… Why Chiwenga didn’t attend

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s decision to cancel his trip to the United Nations at the last minute has sparked speculation about growing tensions within Zimbabwe’s ruling elite.

The cancellation comes just days after a helicopter meant to transport him crashed in Masvingo shortly after takeoff, leaving many wondering whether the incident was a deliberate attempt to harm the president..

Mnangagwa was not on board the helicopter when it crashed, but the incident is said to have shaken those around him, sparking a wave of paranoia and security concerns.

The president was in Masvingo to celebrate his birthday, but Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who is said to be opposed to Mnangagwa’s bid for a third term, was noticeably absent from the event.

Sources close to Chiwenga say he chose to attend his children’s baptism because his camp had not received an official invitation to the controversial celebrations dubbed “Munhumutapa Day”.

The cancellation of the UN trip has fuelled speculation about a power struggle within the ruling Zanu PF party. According to sources, the decision to cancel the trip came shortly after the helicopter crash, and the subsequent sacking of a senior security official, Colonel Tera, only added to the sense of unease, The Standard reported.

“The news that the president was no longer traveling was greeted with great discouragement as those already in New York were hoping his delegation would bring its allowances with it,” one source said.

“The UN General Assembly has always been a bargain-basement opportunity for those who provide close security to the president, senior government officials and journalists from state-controlled media. Many were taken by surprise and the explanation that the president had cancelled the trip due to a busy schedule was not convincing. Many people were disappointed because this time they would not have got a bargain.”

Mnangagwa’s trip to the UN was meant to be an opportunity for him to address the world on the theme of “leaving no one behind,” a mantra he often uses. The theme is particularly relevant in the current global context, where world leaders are meeting to discuss solutions to interconnected challenges such as peace, security and sustainable development.

The UN General Assembly is seen as a crucial platform for world leaders to engage on these issues, and Mnangagwa’s absence has raised questions about his commitment to international engagement.

Sources say there was paranoia among Mnangagwa’s aides and loyalists after the helicopter crash, with senior security officials feeling uncertain about their future.

“The dismissal of such a high-ranking bodyguard has come as a shock to many. It marks the beginning of possible shake-ups and purges among the top security brass. The future of several chiefs is at stake,” one source said.

The helicopter, which was carrying only crew members, suffered a technical failure before the forced landing, according to Information Minister Jenfan Muswere. But the incident adds to a long list of security failures targeting the president and his family, sparking increased concern within the ruling party.

In June of this year, Mnangagwa has ordered a full investigation into a series of security breaches targeting him and his family, including reopening the stalled probe into the 2018 grenade attack at White City stadium that nearly cost him his life..

In March, Mnangagwa fired air force chief Elson Moyo after he was forced to cancel his landing at Victoria Falls International Airport because of a bomb threat sent by email by someone calling himself “John Doe”.

In July this year, reports indicated that police had launched an investigation after Mnangagwa’s plane returning him home from Mozambique was targeted by someone using lasers to blind the pilots as it approached Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.

President Mnangagwa has asked the police commissioner, Godwin Matanga, to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators, believing that the incidents are interconnected.

“He wants answers from the state security services, starting with elucidating what happened in White City,” revealed a source familiar with the latest developments.

The White City stadium attack took place during a Zanu PF rally in 2018. Two Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives were killed and 47 others, including Deputy President Kembo Mohadi and Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri, were injured. The grenade, thrown at the VIP tent as Mnangagwa was leaving the stage, narrowly missed the president, ricocheting off a tent that was going up and changing direction, witnesses said..

Mnangagwa, who had previously claimed to know the identity of the perpetrators of the attack, has now ordered a fresh investigation, stressing his determination to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The president’s concerns are further compounded by a series of recent incidents, including the attack on his plane on July 12. As Mnangagwa’s plane was returning from Mozambique, individuals attempted to blind the pilots with lasers as the plane approached Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.

Days earlier, bizarre break-ins took place at the private residences of the president and his son, Deputy Finance Minister David Mnangagwa, as well as at the government office of his nephew, Deputy Tourism Minister Tongai Mnangagwa.

These incidents, coupled with a bomb scare in March at Victoria Falls International Airport, where Mnangagwa was forced to cancel his landing because of an email threat from someone claiming to be “John Doe”, have fuelled a sense of unease within the president’s inner circle.

This is the first time Mnangagwa will not attend the UN assembly since he came to power in 2017. The only time he has not attended the annual summit since becoming president was in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid-19.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana referred The Standard to presidential spokesperson George Charamba when asked about Mnangagwa’s cancellation of his UN trip.

“Talk to the president’s spokesperson. He speaks on behalf of the president,” Mangwana said.

Charamba’s phone was not answered as of press time. On Friday, Charamba issued a statement announcing Mnangagwa’s decision not to attend the summit, saying Foreign Affairs Minister Fredrick Shava would read the president’s speech at the UN.

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