UK hails setting up of Mnangagwa's Commission of Inquiry

OUTGOING United Kingdom Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Catriona Laing, says her country was encouraged" by the setting up of a Commission of Inquiry into the political violence of August 1, which led to the unfortunate deaths of six people.

While officially opening the first session of the Ninth Parliament yesterday, President Mnangagwa said he would swear-in the seven commissioners today.

Ambassador Laing said they had been "extremely disturbed" by events of August 1 but the announcement of a highly regarded team of commissioners was encouraging. She said this in Harare yesterday during a press conference which was also attended by Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube.

Ambassador Laing said: ". . . we are nevertheless encouraged by President (Mnangagwa)'s commitment in setting up a Commission of Inquiry, which we understand will be sworn in tomorrow (today) and will be working with a three months' timeline."

She said there are indications that President Mnangagwa sees the inquiry as "extremely important" Ambassador Laing added that "there are eminent people on this inquiry and we are therefore very hopeful that it will deliver results (and) that there will be accountability for those events."

Former South Africa president, Mr Kgalema Motlanthe, leads the team. Others members of the Commission of Inquiry include British lawyer Rodney Dixon, former Commonwealth secretary-general Ambassador Chief Emeka Anyaoku (Nigeria), former Tanzanian defence boss, Retired General Davis Mwamunyange and University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer Professor, Charity Manyeruke.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Laing also urged Government to institute a number of reforms that are required as part of preparations for the 2023 elections.

"It's never too early to prepare and completion of the work around Constitutional alignment . . ."

President Mnangagwa yesterday said the process to align the country's laws to the Constitution is "work in progress". The UK is also happy that Zimbabwe is willing to re-join the Commonwealth. Ambassador Laing said the UK was keen to assist Zimbabwe to achieve the political and economic reforms it has embarked on.

"We want Zimbabwe to succeed. You have enormous potential and nothing will make us happier than to see that aspiration of a middle income economy by 2030 being achieved," she said.

Ambassador Laing is set to leave and will be replaced by World Bank executive director, Ms Melanie Robinson.

Ms Robinson will take up her appointment in January next year while Ambassador Laing leaves to become British High Commissioner to Nigeria.