Chitungwiza Blast: Suspects Arrested
Report by Xolisani Ncube
HARARE – Police yesterday picked up several people for questioning as investigations into the suspected bomb explosion that rocked Zengeza suburb in Chitungwiza on Monday afternoon continues.
Harare police spokesperson, Tadious Chibanda, said elaborate investigations were underway and officers from the Law and Order unit were handling the case. “We have moved the case to Law and Order,” he told the Daily News yesterday.
“Zimbabweans should wait for us. Our officers from there will work closely with the army bomb disposal department as well as forensic experts to give us the real cause.” The investigations are being done at senior level as the matter is being treated as a serious security issue.
Police are following various leads while the superstitious believe it is black magic which caused the explosion. Sources told the Daily News that traces of red mercury were found at the house giving rise to the argument that the explosion could have been caused by a bomb.
Retired brigadier Felix Muchemwa, a former military supremo, told State TV yesterday that from preliminary investigations, the impact of the explosion and its effects point to a bomb explosion.
“There is no mysticism involved,” Muchemwa said. “All the signs point to an incendiary bomb and talk that there was no fire is hogwash. “How could people be burnt without fire?” asked Muchemwa confirming the Daily News story yesterday that the explosion could have been caused by a bomb.
According to police sources, the wife of a deceased businessman who had gone to consult the traditional healer, an aide to the late traditional healer and another unidentified person were taken in for questioning yesterday.
Meanwhile, Chitungwiza Town Council has pledged to assist victims of the deadly blast — some of whom lost everything — by providing them with shelter and food.
When the Daily News crew arrived at the scene yesterday, municipal workers were busy clearing off debris from the damaged houses. Council was moving to pitch tents for temporary shelter. – Daily News
