By Staff Reporter

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has “retired” the head of the Air Force of Zimbabwe on the same day the Zanu PF leader was forced to abandon a flight due to a bomb scare.

A statement from the presidency Friday said Mnangagwa “has … retired Air Marshal Elson Moyo as Commander of the Airforce of Zimbabwe with effect from 15th March 2024.

“Following the … retirement,  the President has … appointed Air Vice Marshall John Jacob Nzvede, as the new Commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe with effect from 15th March 2024.”

Earlier in the day, a bomb scare had shut down Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls Airport, forcing Mnangagwa to cancel a planned address at a conference on renewable energy in the resort city.

Mnangagwa was due to address the conference in the morning, but “had to suspend his trip to allow for investigations which are already underway,” presidential spokesman George Charamba said.

Authorities couldn’t confirm local media reports that the president’s plane made a U-turn while traveling to the conference.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe said that the incident had forced some flights to divert or delay landing, and more disruptions were likely “to allow for the continuous monitoring of the environment.”

The Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya, announces that His Excellency President @edmnangagwa has retired Air Marshal E Moyo and appointed Air Vice Marshal JJ Nzvede as the new Commander of the Airforce of Zimbabwe. pic.twitter.com/L4BnfhyijD

— Presidential Communications Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 (@DeptCommsZW) March 1, 2024