Byo Bomb: Injured CIOs speak from hospital

Presidential security and intelligence officers (CIOs) were among the victims of a bomb attack that nearly killed the country’s leaders and they have since narrated harrowing experiences and scary tales of how they survived the explosion that shook White City Stadium on Saturday following a big Zanu-PF rally addressed by  President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Mr Cuthbert Makondo (39), Vice-President Kembo Mohadi’s aide(pictured), is one of the 49 people injured in the blast.

He gave a frightening picture of how he survived the attack while escorting his boss off the stage.

“My attention was on escorting VP (Kembo) Mohadi off the stage soon after the President’s address. I then  heard a deafening sound and the next thing, I was on the ground bleeding profusely. I tried in vain to stop the bleeding,” he said.

Mr Makondo said he forced himself up despite the excruciating pain and staggered towards a waiting ambulance while clutching his wounded shoulder.

“I lumbered through and got to where there was an ambulance and the emergency guys came in and assisted me into the vehicle,” he said.

Mr Makondo sustained a fracture on his right shoulder and deep wound.

President Mnangagwa’s aide, Mr Austin Jimu said before the explosion he heard a sound but could not tell where it came from.

More than 40 people were injured and some needed life saving surgeries to recover from the effects of the blast. state media