By Tawanda Musariri

Zanu PF has provided majority witnesses to the inquiry seeking answers to the August violence following the harmonised elections held on 31 July.

The mob violence which resulted in the death of six people saw Zanu PF losing four vehicles while the party's Harare province office had its windowpanes shelled down by volleys of stones.

The violence was triggered by suspected MDC Alliance supporters after they got impatient over the speed at which results were being announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission on August 1. According to the electoral law, ZEC had up to the 5th of August to announce the results.

According to 14 Zanu PF eye witnesses who work at the targeted office, who turned up to give their evidence on events of the fateful day, the mob had an undisguised determination to burn down their offices and everything else within its confines. The officials escaped the scene with varying degrees of injuries.

District Administrator for Harare in the party, Roy Jani told the Commission that he lost a Toyota sedan car and some personal effects contained therein. Jani, who walks with the aid of a crutch failed to recover his car from the insurers as their contract does not cover politically caused losses.

"Look here, I walk with the aid of this crutch because of an injury I suffered prior to the violence. This car was a necessary convenience to me, but now I am a permanent pedestrian because I failed to recover my car. The insurers declined to replace the car arguing that our contract does not cover losses incurred from political disturbances. I am at a loss as to why my car was burnt down. It was not branded with party insignia and neither did I contest for any position in the election. What I am appealing for is for this Commission to cause the replacement of my car," said the visibly emotional Jani.

The officials manning the office on the fateful day had the most traumatising ordeal among the survivors of the events of August 1, probably explaining the reason why they descended on the venue of the inquiry hearings en-masse to give their evidence.

Mrs Stella Matsengarwodzi, another worker at the party office said the events of the fateful day continue to traumatise her to this day. Away from the trauma, she claimed she suffered bodily injury from the stones and flying glass as the office was besieged by the hooligans. She said her eyesight had deteriorated following the attack.

A clerk, Fortunate Kangombe told the inquiry that she and a couple other workmates sought refuge crammed in a toilet for two hours before the situation calmed.

According to other witnesses who corroborated the claim that the mob was sympathetic to the MDC claimed that the marauding hooligans attempted to destroy Herald House, The ZEC offices and Zanu PF headquarters, both situated at the western limits of the city together with setting ablaze Zanu PF campaign insignia which was still displayed at strategic viewing points, chiefly President Mnangagwa's campaign banners.

Zanu PF candidate Emmerson Mnangagwa went on to win the presidential election with MDC's Nelson Chamisa emerging second.

The inquiry continues sitting today