THE commission of inquiry probing the post election violence
on August 1 in which the army killed six civilians is reportedly headed for a
clash with opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa after refusing to give in to
his demands ahead of his appearance today.
The Motlanthe Commission spokesperson John Masuku said they
expected Chamisa to appear before it today, where it would discuss the requests
carried in the letter delivered to him on Monday.
“The commission is expecting Mr Chamisa to appear before it
tomorrow (today) therein they will discuss with him the contents of his letter
and see what to do, there is no response yet to the letter which he sent and
was received by the chairperson, but he is expected to attend,” Masuku told
NewsDay.
This could create a potential stand-off between Chamisa and
Motlanthe, after the opposition leader indicated that he would not attend if
his demands were not met.
Top on his demands was the request to have the right to
cross-examine Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) boss General Philip Valerio
Sibanda; Presidential Guard commander Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe; Zimbabwe
Electoral
Commission (Zec) chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba and
police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, who all accused him of fanning the
post-election violence.
“Further, and in the interest of due process and my natural
and constitutional rights, would I stand assured that an opportunity to
cross-examine the witness who ‘mentioned [my name] as among those who played a
part in inciting the violence of 1 August 2018’ will be availed, since the sole
basis of my invitation is his, her or their testimony,” Chamisa wrote to the
commission.
Members of the uniformed forces also accused the MDC of
training a military wing which they said was possibly armed during the
demonstrations which left a trail of destruction, six people dead and scores of
others nursing gunshot injuries.
Chamisa said since the commission was inviting him to
answer to the allegations, he would be happy to be favoured with the nature of
the allegations, who made them and that he be allowed to question those out to
‘soil’ his image.
“I note, in particular, that the basis of the invitation
appears to emanate from testimony and allegations made by a witness to the
effect that I incited violence. I consider the allegation to be malicious.
Since my response to this contrived allegation is required, I consider it “fair
and just” that I should be afforded all the relevant information relating to
the allegations so as to enable me to prepare adequately. I kindly, therefore,
ask the commission to favour me with the full transcript of the relevant part
of the testimony; to better understand the nature, circumstances, scope and
credibility of the allegations made against me,” he wrote.
Six people were killed in the post-election army crackdown
on protests in a manner reminiscent of former President Robert Mugabe’s nearly
four decades stay in power.
Police arrested 27 MDC supporters following the
demonstration who were charged with fomenting the violence but were released on
$50 bail each.
The August 1 crackdown was seen as a failure by the new
administration to show that it had turned a new leaf from the repressive Mugabe
regime.
Chamisa also asked Motlanthe if he had invited other players
accused of inciting pre-election violence, including Vice-President Constatino
Chiwenga, former Minister of State in Masvingo Josiah Hungwe and former deputy
minister of Finance Terrence Mukupe, who had made statements to the effect that
Mnangagwa would use the gun to defend his stay in power.
He also demanded that President Emmerson Mnangagwa should
appear before the commission to answer allegations on who deployed the military
into the streets.
“To start with, the commission’s appointing authority, Mr
Mnangagwa, was, during the material time, the sole authority charged with the
responsibility of the security of all citizens in terms of the Constitution.
He, therefore, is the key witness in this matter,” Chamisa wrote.
But Masuku said Mnangagwa and his deputy have not yet been
invited to appear before the commission, but evidence will be heard starting
from tomorrow from ballistics experts, lawyers for human rights, Tendai Biti
and Shadreck Mashayamombe among others.
“The President and his deputy have not been invited, not at
this point,” Masuku said. Newsday
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