News / National
Chamisa likely to testify as post-poll violence probe team resumes duty
21 Nov 2018 at 05:10hrs | Views
THE Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 disturbances that resulted in the death of six people and damage to property is resuming today amid reports that MDC-Alliance leader, Mr Nelson Chamisa, is also likely to come and testify.
Mr Chamisa was subpoenaed by the Commission after his name was implicated by earlier witnesses as one of the people who incited violence on August 1.
Initially, Mr Chamisa publicly refused to appear before the Commission during a press conference where he vowed that he could only do so if President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputies appeared before the same Commission.
Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Mrs Virginia Mabiza confirmed in a statement yesterday that the hearings are resuming today.
"The general public is hereby invited to attend public hearings to be held in Harare at Cresta Lodge on Wednesday 21 November 2018," said Mrs Mabiza.
The hearings start at 10AM. So far, several prominent people including senior military personnel such as the Commander Zimbabwe Defence Force General Phillip Valerio Sibanda and Police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga have appeared before the same Commission. Both Gen Sibanda and Comm Gen Matanga denied that the military personnel deployed in the streets of Harare under the National Reaction Force, opened fire on the rioters.
Gen Sibanda confirmed that he heard gun shots from his office at the Defence House before the deployment of the National Reaction Force. They said the people died before the deployment of the National Reaction Force.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson, Justice Priscilla Chigumba, also testified and said the fatal incident could have been avoided if the MDC-Alliance leadership and its supporters had allowed the electoral body to announce the election results as enshrined in the constitution without hindrance.
Meanwhile, police said they had opened a murder case docket in relation with the August 1 shootings. The Commission, which is chaired by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, was appointed by President Mnangagwa to investigate the August 1 incident and is expected to come up with recommendations on the way forward.
Mr Chamisa was subpoenaed by the Commission after his name was implicated by earlier witnesses as one of the people who incited violence on August 1.
Initially, Mr Chamisa publicly refused to appear before the Commission during a press conference where he vowed that he could only do so if President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputies appeared before the same Commission.
Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Mrs Virginia Mabiza confirmed in a statement yesterday that the hearings are resuming today.
The hearings start at 10AM. So far, several prominent people including senior military personnel such as the Commander Zimbabwe Defence Force General Phillip Valerio Sibanda and Police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga have appeared before the same Commission. Both Gen Sibanda and Comm Gen Matanga denied that the military personnel deployed in the streets of Harare under the National Reaction Force, opened fire on the rioters.
Gen Sibanda confirmed that he heard gun shots from his office at the Defence House before the deployment of the National Reaction Force. They said the people died before the deployment of the National Reaction Force.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson, Justice Priscilla Chigumba, also testified and said the fatal incident could have been avoided if the MDC-Alliance leadership and its supporters had allowed the electoral body to announce the election results as enshrined in the constitution without hindrance.
Meanwhile, police said they had opened a murder case docket in relation with the August 1 shootings. The Commission, which is chaired by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, was appointed by President Mnangagwa to investigate the August 1 incident and is expected to come up with recommendations on the way forward.
Source - chronicle
