Zimbabwe Post-Election Violence: Commission to investigate death of six people in August protests

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Europe

02:19

In Zimbabwe an independent commission charged with investigating the loss of six lives in post-election violence on August 1st will begin work this weekend. The commission was sworn in by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday. Our correspondent Farai Mwakutuya has more.

Former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe chairs the seven-member commission whose other foreign members include former Commonwealth Secretary General, Emeka Anyaoku, Tanzania's former defence chief Davis Mwamunyange and British human rights lawyer, Rodney Dixon.

Two University of Zimbabwe professors and a past president of the Zimbabwe Law Society - make up the rest of the commission, which has three months to present its final report and recommendations.

It will conduct public hearings to gather evidence and ascertain the instigators of the deadly August 1 clashes and assess whether the degree of force used by security forces including the army was appropriate.

FARAI MWAKUTUYA HARARE, ZIMBABWE "Six people were killed after the army used live ammunition to disperse rioters who took to the streets after the announcement of election results that had the ruling ZANU PF in the lead."

KGALEMA MOTLANTHE CHAIRPERSON, ZIMBABWE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY "We have just adjourned and agreed that we will reconvene on Saturday to look at the work plan and the schedule and we will take it up from there. We will issue a statement on Saturday inviting all Zimbabweans and giving them the contact numbers and everything. We want to hear all the versions."

Concerns over the inclusion of Professor Lovemore Madhuku, one of 22 challengers that ran against President Mnangagwa in the July 31 elections, have been allayed.

PROF. LOVEMORE MADHUKU COMMISSIONER "What is happening is an enquiry that is based on evidence. It's our capacity and my capacity to be able to assess what has happened on what has been given so there is no room for partiality there is no room for bias, everything is based on evidence."

The violence marred Zimbabwe's most peaceful election in recent years and threatened to jeopardize President Mnangagwa's efforts to renew the country's international image. FM, CGTN, H, Z.