By Shongedzai Mugwagwa and Gift mashoko
President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday officially released the Commission of Inquiry findings to the public at his Munhumutapa offices.
In the findings, the Commission pinned the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa for the August 1 post election violence where 6 people were killed and 35 injured. However, the Commission castigated the Army and Police operational discharge of using live ammunition.
Addressing journalist in the Cabinet room, President Mnangagwa said that the Commission blames the MDC Alliance leaders for inciting violence in their rallies before and after elections. The findings read that speeches given were loaded with hate speech and inciting.
The Commission took note of the MDC's position that if their Presidential candidate Chamisa is not declared winner, they will make the country ungovernable; a threat which the Commission said they fulfilled it.
It was highlighted in the findings that the rioters were forcing ordinary people who were minding their own business to join the unsanctioned demonstration. The commission found that fake and fabricated social media contributed and fueled the violence. The environment presiding the July 30 presidential elections were peaceful as all political parties were campaigning freely.
The Commission noted with disappointed that the protests were pre-planned and well orchestred as groups arrived with trucks containing assortments of objects like bricks, stones and sticks. It was noted that the rioters used a tactic of pretending to disperse and regroup and come back as a formidable force and therefore overwhelming the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
The Mothlante findings said in their findings they cannot rule out use of rifles by other people besides the security services as evidenced on the ENCA report where it was reported of shots coming from a building before the military had deployed.
The Commission noted that the escalation of the situation in a very short period of time was disastrous and dangerous to the public. Therefore, the deployment of the army to aid the overwhelmed police was the last resort.
However, the Commission castigated the use of live ammunition as unjustified and disproportionate same as the use of shamboks, button sticks it was not called for.
The Commission recommended that in future, the Army and the Police have a contingency plan set to avoid what transpired during the August 1 incidents. It was noted that for instance time could not permit but the deployed troops were supposed to fall under the Police Commander but that was an operational mishap.
The findings also read that compensation of dependents and victims needed to be done. A fund was needed to help medial report.
Hate speech and abuse of the cyber space to be looked into and incitement to commit acts of violence should be looked into.
ZEC was said to be empowered with legal powers to punish political parties who break the Electoral Act
