The Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 post-election
violence yesterday conducted an inspection in loco at the former Ximex Mall,
Zanu-PF Headquarters and Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions offices to assess
the damage and get to the bottom of what transpired in the Harare central
business district leading to the death of six people and destruction of
thousands of dollars’ worth of property.
This came as the commission was preparing to hear evidence
from members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and the Zimbabwe Republic Police
today.
The testimonies from the security forces will be open to
the public, Secretary for the Commission Mrs Virginia Mabiza told our sister publication,
The Sunday Mail, on Saturday.
The commission was set up by President Mnangagwa on
September 14 to probe the violence which erupted in Harare on August 1, as the
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission was in the process of announcing results of the
July 30 harmonised elections. It is chaired by former South African president
Kgalema Motlanthe. Other foreign commission members are international law
expert Mr Rodney Dixon QC from the United Kingdom, former Commonwealth
secretary-general Chief Emeka Anyaoku from Nigeria and former Chief of Defence
Forces of the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces General (Retired) Davis
Mwamunyange.
University of Zimbabwe lecturers Professors Charity
Manyeruke and Lovemore Madhuku, and former president of the Law Society of
Zimbabwe Mrs Vimbai Nyemba complete the cast.
At the Zanu-PF Headquarters, Youth League secretary for
administration Cde Tendai Chirau showed the commission where demonstrators were
positioned and how they tried to break into the premises.
The commission was also informed that the demonstrators
were armed with iron bars and threw stones at the main building. The commissioners toured the car park where the
demonstrators destroyed vehicles.
Cde Chirau explained how the demonstrators used iron bars
to destroy the perimeter fence at the party headquarters to gain entry into the
premises.
Zanu-PF director for administration Cde Dickson Dzora told
the commission that the demonstrators were determined to get into the premises
at all costs.
“They were initially peaceful when they arrived, but after
a while they became violent,” he said. “Everyone could see that they wanted to
burn down this building (Zanu-PF HQ) and everything within its perimeter.
“The presence of police guarding this building failed to deter
them. They only dispersed after the military came in at around 2pm.”
At ZCTU offices, the commission was taken to different
offices where officials narrated their experiences on the day.
ZCTU security officer Mr Joseph Tshuma showed the
commissioners spent cartridges which he said had been found within the
building.
“We lodged a police report and expected police to do a
follow-up, but they did not come,” he said. “We still have the cartridges.”
The commissioners asked him to come and give his evidence
under oath before them today.
Apart from the ZDF and ZRP members, the commission has
invited members of the public, civic society organisations and political
leaders to attend today’s hearings in Harare.
Tomorrow, the commission expects to hear evidence from the
National Peace and Reconciliation Commission and the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human
Rights, while the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General’s
Office will also be invited.
Since the commission started the public hearings on October
16, at least 13 organisations have made written submissions, while 111
individuals have given testimonies. It has already been to Gweru, Bulawayo and
Mutare to hear people’s views on what happened on the fateful day after a
peaceful campaign period and election day.
The commission is expected to present its findings at the end
of this month. Herald
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