Abstract
Zimbabwe held its national elections on 30 July 2018. The electoral process was generally peaceful until 1 August 2018, when demonstrators took to the streets of Harare demanding the immediate release of the presidential election results. Arguably, the police failed to contain the situation and sought the assistance of the military which fired live ammunition to unarmed civilians. By end of 1 August 2018, at least six (6) people had been tragically killed; injury of thirty-five (35), and extensive damage and destruction of property had been caused. Following these incidents, on 12 September 2018, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, appointed a Commission of Inquiry in terms of Section 2(1) of the Commission of Inquiry Act [Chapter 10:07] through Proclamation 6of 2018 published in Statutory Instrument 181 of 2018, to investigate matters of public welfare arising out of the tragic events in Harare on 1 August 2018. This article argues that the Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry was biased against main opposition. The article concluded that the coverage of the public hearings was polarized and that Zimbabwe is a divided and polarized state. This article contributes towards policy and reform changes.
Highlights
Background and ContextZimbabwe has a history of political violence which usually escalates during the pre, peri and postelection period (ZADHR Report, 2018)
Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry (2018:26) revealed that the Commander of the Defence Forces, General Philip Sibanda testified before the Commission that he had been advised by the Vice President and Minister of Defence, General Chiwenga, that His Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa had authorized the deployment of the military in terms of the Constitution
According to Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry (2018) report, causes of death and injury were captured as: The Commission received extensive evidence of the Army and the Police using live ammunition and firing at civilians, including; the video evidence of soldiers firing at civilians, such as the kneeling soldier (see pages 40-41 for details (35) were injured as a result of the actions by the Military and the Police.’
Summary
After the Commission of Inquiry adjoined public hearings in Harare, it conducted public hearings in Bulawayo, Gweru and Mutare. I do not know if the President responded to the letter from the Defence minister, I assume there was verbal communication, I received orders from the Minister of Defence verbally to deploy the military to help the police (Phillip Valerio Sibanda quoted by News Day, 13 November 2018). We sat on the same table planning how to attack and beat up MDC supporters She was my commander and she sent me on errands of violence ...Manyeruke is dirty; I don’t want to answer any question from this woman (News Day, 22 November 2018). Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry (2018:26) revealed that the Commander of the Defence Forces, General Philip Sibanda testified before the Commission that he had been advised by the Vice President and Minister of Defence, General Chiwenga, that His Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa had authorized the deployment of the military in terms of the Constitution. According to Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry (2018) report, causes of death and injury were captured as: The Commission received extensive evidence of the Army and the Police using live ammunition and firing at civilians, including; the video evidence of soldiers firing at civilians, such as the kneeling soldier (see pages 40-41 for details (35) were injured as a result of the actions by the Military and the Police.’
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