Ministers frisked at Mnangagwa event

An explosion rocked President Emmerson Mnangagwa's rally in Bulawayo on June 23

MINISTERS and top government officials are now being subjected to physical security checks at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s events, following an explosion at his Bulawayo rally last week.

Security around the president is noticeably tighter following the Bulawayo incident.

Ministers, who are normally spared security checks, were subjected to physical searches ahead of Mnangagwa’s ground-breaking event at the Hwange thermal plant last Wednesday.

Ministers subjected to the checks included Patrick Chinamasa, Simon Khaya Moyo, Obert Mpofu, Winston Chitando, Josiah Hungwe and David Musabayana.

Pat-down…Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Zesa chairman Herbert Murerwa being processed by security

Apart from going through full-body scanners and having metal detectors run over them, the dignitaries then had to endure pat-downs.

The Bulawayo blast, which took place just as Mnangagwa was leaving the stage at White City stadium, has claimed two presidential security officers and injured scores of people, including Vice President Kembo Mohadi and senior minister Oppah Muchinguri, who are still hospitalised.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Marry, also injured in the explosion, was briefly hospitalised in the second capital.