Bomb explodes at Zanu PF candidate's home

Bomb explodes at Zanu PF candidate's home

• Mugabe votes, says will accept defeat

• Large queues as voting gets underway

• Zimbabweans go to the polls

• Zimbabwe election facts

• Man escapes jail for 'axing' Mugabe poster

• Gugulethu Moyo: All to play for

• Langton Towungana: one who dared

• Presidential poll winner needs 51 percent - ZEC

By Lindie Whiz

THE air of tense calm as Zimbabweans voted in general elections on Saturday was pierced by a bomb attack on the home of a Zanu PF election candidate in Emakhandeni suburb, a working class township in the second largest city of Bulawayo.

Judith Mkwanda, who is running for MP, was targeted by unknown assailants while she slept at 2AM Saturday - a petrol bomb shattering windows and rupturing a section of the roof.

She was sleeping in the house at the time but escaped unhurt with her family.

Chief police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena confirmed the attack, the first reported incident of violence on Election Day.

"Early this morning a house in Emakhandeni... constituency was bombed. We have since retrieved explosive devices... no arrests have been made as yet and no one was injured," Bvudzijena said.

Bulawayo is a hotbed of opposition to President Robert Mugabe's rule and traditionally votes for his opponents.

Security forces are on high alert as Mugabe seeks to extend his 28 year rule.

He has vowed to crush any election related protests, and critics claim he is attempting to rig the elections.
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
newsdesk@newzimbabwe.com