President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe has expressed “shock” and “revulsion” at the attempted assassination of former United States President Donald Trump.
In a letter dated July 16, 2024, addressed to US President Joseph Biden, Mnangagwa condemned the “cowardly attack” and offered his heartfelt sympathy.
“Zimbabwe followed the news of the attack on the former United States of America President and presumptive Republican Party Presidential Candidate, Mr. Donald Trump, with shock and revulsion,” Mnangagwa wrote.
“On behalf of the government and people of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and indeed on my own behalf, I wish to extend to you my heartfelt sympathy and condemnation of the cowardly attack, which also led to loss of life.”
During a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday evening, former President Trump was the target of an attempted assassination. The incident occurred at around 6:10 PM ET, shortly after Trump had begun speaking.
As shots were fired, Trump quickly sought cover behind his lectern, while Secret Service agents rapidly moved to shield him.
Sadly, Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief attending the rally, was fatally shot while protecting his family. The perpetrator, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was swiftly eliminated by Secret Service counter snipers.
Mnangagwa expressed Zimbabwe’s solidarity with the US government and people in the wake of the attack.
“We stand in solidarity with the Government and people of the United States in the wake of this unfortunate and tragic development,” he wrote.
“We wish the former President and the others who were injured speedy recovery, and express our condolences to the family of the deceased.”
Mnangagwa himself survived an alleged assassination attempt on 23 June 2018 when a grenade exploded at White City Stadium in Bulawayo just after he had finished giving a speech at a ZANU–PF campaign rally.
Although Mnangagwa was unharmed, two security agents later died of their injuries while at least 49 people were injured, including Vice-Presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi and other high-ranking government officials.
Mnangagwa’s letter to Biden on the Trump assassination comes on the back of the US government in March this year imposing sanctions on Mnangagwa, his wife Auxillia, Vice President Chiwenga and Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri.
The list includes tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei, his wife and two of their businesses.
They were all accused of supporting human rights abuses and corruption.
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