ZIMBABWEAN President
Emerson Mnangagwa has appointed a seven-person commission of inquiry to
probe post-election violence that rocked Harare on August 1, 2018.
The South African President Kgalema
Motlanhte headed commission members including former Tanzania People’s
Defence Force (TPDF) Chief of Defence Forces General (Rtd) Davis
Mwamunyange and other eminent persons from within and outside Zimbabwe.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Professor Adolph Mkenda
could not comment on the appointment of Gen Mwamunyange when reached by
‘Daily News’ through a telephone.
Six people died and property worth
thousands of dollars was destroyed by suspectedMDC-Alliance supporters
who went on the rampage during the violent demonstration. Other members
of the commission from outside Zimbabwe are international law expert
Rodney Dixon QC from the UK and former Secretary General of the
Commonwealth Chief Emeka Anyaoku.
University of Zimbabwe (UZ) lecturers
Professors Charity Manyeruke and Lovemore Madhuku as well as former
president of the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) MrsVimbai Nyemba are also
among members of commission.
“In fulfillment of what I have earlier on
undertaken to do, in order to address the matter in a transparent manner
and in the public interest, I have appointed a seven-member Commission
to inquire into the post-election violence,” President Mnangagwa
announced at his Munhumutapa offices, adding: “The Commission is made up
of local, regional and international members, who have been appointed
in terms of the Commission of Inquiry Act (Chapter 10:07).”
President Mnangagwa said the commission’s
terms of reference were to inquire into the circumstances that led to
the violence, identify actors and their leaders, motive and strategies
they employed, among other pertinent issues.
Other terms of reference include inquiry
into the intervention by the Zimbabwe Republic Police in the maintenance
of law and order and investigation of the circumstances that
necessitated the involvement of the military in assisting in the
maintenance of law.
The commission will also consider whether
the degree of force used was appropriate to the ensuing threat to public
safety, law and order and ascertain the extent of damage/injury caused.
Other terms of reference, the president
said, “Are to investigate any other matters which the Commission of
Inquiry may deem appropriate and relevant to the inquiry, make suitable
recommendations and report to the President in writing, the result of
the inquiry within a period of three months from the date of swearing-in
of the commission.”
President Mnangagwa said a notice
officially announcing the setting up of the Commission will be published
in the Government Gazette in accordance with the law. Asked when the
Commission would start work, President Mnangagwa said it will be
sworn-in next week after his return from China where he will attend the
Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
“As soon as possible,” he said of the date
for the commission to get down to work. “We have consulted all the
seven and they have all agreed. Arrangements are being made for them to
be resident in Zimbabwe during the process.”
Violence broke out in Harare’s city centre
after some supporters of the MDC Alliance embarked on a violent protest
and besieged the National Results Command Centre before torching
buildings and vehicles.
This resulted in the police requesting the
involvement of the army, with the law enforcement agency saying they
were overwhelmed as some of their members were still providing security
at several polling stations across the country.
The law allows the police to call for help from other security agencies if they become overwhelmed by situations.
No comments :
Post a Comment