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Lincoln Towindo, Harare Bureau
THE high-level probe into the 1 August, 2018 post-election political violence has in the last fortnight received at least 60 written and oral submission from witnesses and victims.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed the Commission of Inquiry into Post-Election Violence of August 1, 2018 — led by former South Africa President Kgalema Motlanthe — last month to investigate the chaos that occurred in Harare after supporters linked to the MDC-Alliance demanded early release of the July 30 poll results. The mob also wanted an outcome that favoured their leader Mr Nelson Chamisa.
The Commission has invited political parties and other organisations — among them the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, human rights and civic groups, media houses and Government ministries — to present submissions before next Friday’s deadline.
Shadowy social media group Team Pachedu, which claims to have overwhelming evidence of what took place on August 1, has also been invited to assist with information.
Of the parties invited, only Zanu-PF had tendered its submissions by the time of going to print. Public hearings into the matter start on Tuesday next week. Secretary to the Commission Mrs Virginia Mabhiza told our Harare Bureau last week that hearings would be public unless there were special requests to protect identities.
“There is overwhelming response from the public; people are very forthcoming with evidence, some are bringing in sworn affidavits while some are coming in person; in summary people are co-operating. We have people who are coming in person to share what they witnessed and we are just listing them so that when the commission sits they will hear evidence from some of the witnesses.”
The Commission has completed background research into the use of force in Zimbabwe and conducted a regional and international comparative analysis. Political parties, churches, media (local and foreign), commissions and some Government departments are some of the stakeholders invited to make submissions .
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