By Tawanda Musariri

The Commission of Inquiry probing the events of August 1 on the election aftermath has carried inspections in loco of scenes of violence and arson carried by suspected MDC elements. The inspections were carried at 11 locations in the city.

Chairperson of the Commission, former president of South Africa Kgalema Mothlante led his team, accompanied by the secretariat, with key witnesses on tow. The team travelled in a bus under police escort.

First to be visited was the Zanu PF provincial office on Simon Muzenda Street, the chief target of the assailants.

At the office, the inspection party witnessed charred remains of two cars, a two tonner truck and a 40 sitter bus. Three of the four vehicles belonged to individuals while one only belonged to the party.

Harare province chairman in the ruling party Cde Goodwills Masimirembwa led the viewing of the trail of destruction that was left by the marauding gang. Office window glasses were shelled down, ceilings torn and attempts were made to throw volleys of fire to torch down the building.

The scenes corroborated evidence given by eyewitnesses who work at the office who turned victims.

From the Zanu PF office, the party proceeded to Zanu PF heardquarters and ZEC offices at the western city limits via Herald House. The publishing company was a prime target and shattered windows on the Second Street side of the building were noticed.

At the Zanu PF headquarters, a new banner was erected in place of another that was stoned down on the day as the hooligans failed to access the office complex for further damage. In frustration, the mob vented their misplaced anger at traffic lights at the Jason Moyo and Rotten Row intersection facing the party office complex.

Other buildings in the demonstration trail were stoned, businesses forced to close and bystanders harassed.

Another venue, though not inspected, the Colcom protein shop at the Jason Moyo Ave pedestrian crossing near Copacabana had its window panes destroyed, the shop eventually replacing the glass at a cost of $534, said Ryon Tapiwa Bingadadi a witness who works at the shop, giving his evidence to the Commission under oath.

The inspection in loco also visited scenes of death where civilians died in the melee ensuing in the city on the fateful day.

The inspection ended with visiting Morgan Tsvangirai House, headquarters of the MDC, where witness accounts allege the destruction party briefly assembled to get further instruction.