Zimbabwe’s president fires Air Force commander after bomb scare

HARARE — Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has taken swift action in the wake of a bomb scare that disrupted operations at Victoria Falls Airport, announcing the dismissal of Air Marshall Elson Moyo, the country’s Air Force commander.

The decision to relieve Moyo of his duties came just hours after President Mnangagwa’s plane aborted landing at the airport due to security concerns sparked by a bomb threat.

In a statement issued by chief cabinet secretary Martin Rushwaya, Mnangagwa cited constitutional provisions as the basis for the dismissal, although specific details surrounding Moyo’s removal were not provided.

Addressing the developments, Mnangagwa emphasized the need for decisive action, stating, “I made these changes in line with the constitution.”

Air Marshall John Jacob Nzvede has been appointed as the new Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) commander to assume the responsibilities previously held by Moyo, according to the statement.

Moyo’s tenure as Air Force of Zimbabwe commander was marked by his alleged involvement in the 2017 military intervention that resulted in the ousting of former President Robert Mugabe.

The intervention, widely viewed as a defacto coup, saw Mnangagwa ascend to power.

During the tumultuous period leading to Mugabe’s removal, Moyo was linked to a Zanu PF faction that sought to implement a succession plan without the approval of senior party officials.

The fallout from these political maneuvers led to Mnangagwa’s dismissal from the vice presidency by Mugabe.

Mnangagwa’s subsequent rise to power was supported by key figures such as Moyo and Perrence Shiri, the former leader of the notorious North-Korean trained militia, the Five Brigade.

Meanwhile, the bomb scare at Victoria Falls Airport prompted President Mnangagwa to cancel his scheduled appearance at a renewable energy conference.

Although authorities have not confirmed reports of the president’s plane altering its course mid-flight, heightened security measures are in place following the security alert.

According to presidential spokesperson George Charamba, the bomb threat was relayed to airport authorities via email, raising concerns about the safety of Zimbabwe’s airports.

Charamba urged the public to remain calm while investigations into the incident are underway, emphasizing that security systems are on high alert.

The swift action taken by President Mnangagwa underscores the seriousness with which Zimbabwe’s government is addressing security threats, particularly in light of recent events that have disrupted normalcy at one of the country’s key transportation hubs.