ZIMBABWEAN President Emmerson Mnangagwa survived a blast at a ruling ZANU-PF party rally today, his spokesman said, adding that the leader has been taken to safety.

An AFP correspondent at the scene reported multiple injuries, but could not immediately give a precise toll.

Images broadcast on Zimbabwean TV showed scenes of chaos and medics fighting to save those wounded by the blast at the White City stadium in the country’s second city, Bulawayo.

“The president was evacuated successfully. He is at the state house in Bulawayo,” said spokesman George Charamba.

“We suspect it’s an explosion, certainly, it was close to the VVIP stage.”

Mnangagwa is in the city to campaign for votes ahead of nationwide elections due on July 30.

They are the first polls since veteran leader Robert Mugabe was ousted following a brief military takeover in November last year, after 37 years in power.

It will be a key test for Mnangagwa, who succeeded long-serving autocrat Mugabe seven months ago, and remains untested at the ballot box.

He has pledged to hold free and fair elections as he seeks to mend international relations. – AFP, June 23, 2018.