BULAWAYO – A helicopter crashed on Sunday on takeoff at an airstrip in Masvingo, while enroute to pick President Emmerson Mnangagwa who was attending an event organised by his Zanu PF party’s youth league, ZimLive can report.
Government spokesman Ndavaningi Mangwana said “there were no casualties” in the incident.
In a statement, Mangwana said: “There was an aviation incident involving one of the Air Force of Zimbabwe helicopters that travelled to Masvingo today. Thankfully there were no casualties. Civil aviation authorities are investigating and their findings will be shared with the nation when they become available.”
ZimLive has been told that the helicopter took off from an airstrip in Masvingo to pick-up Mnangagwa who was attending an event organised by his Zanu PF party’s youth league and return him to Harare.
Mnangagwa, betraying historic yearnings for a Munhumutapa State of which he claims historical witness, was in Masvingo to launch a housing scheme and celebrate his 82nd birthday.
“The Air Force chopper was flying to Bikita to pick him (Mnangagwa) up. It was clear skies but something catastrophic happened on takeoff,” a source said.
