MDC now says 11 people were killed in the 1 August violence, commission of inquiry is biased

The Movement for Democratic Change now says 11 people were killed and a dozen injured in the post-election violence that broke out on 1 August.

Police said six people were killed during the violence.

In a statement in which it condemned the Commission of Inquiry set up by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday as unbalanced and biased, the MDC said while it was necessary to set up a full, impartial and complete investigation of the violence, the commission appointed did “not meet basics of any of its kind”.

Mnangagwa appointed a seven-member commission to be chaired by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe to investigate the violence which broke out two days after the harmonised elections.

“It is set up by and meant to benefit a political party and will report back to the person it has to investigate,” the MDC said.

“As it stands, the Commission requires changes both in its membership and its terms of reference. Its composition is clearly unbalanced and biased.

“Charity Manyeruke is a well know ZANU-PF cheerleader. The evidence is all over the public domain.

“Lovemore Madhuku is an interested party as he was a presidential candidate and has already made comments detrimental to the MDC Alliance. He is not a neutral by-stander.

“Vimbai Nyemba is a Mnangagwa favourite. She has already been appointed as Chairperson of the Procurement Regulatory Authority and is also a member of another Commission of Inquiry into the sale of State land. Is there shortage of suitable persons that one person has to hog multiple positions?”

The MDC said these three will ensure that the inquiry produces a predetermined script to smoke out targeted individuals.

“The value of such an inquiry is doubtful given that we have had commission findings going back to the first years of independence that have never seen the light of day for 38 years,” it said.

“This is just a publicity stance and a public relations gimmick to bolster ED’s image, they know who ordered the army but choose a long-winded route to dupe the world.”

The party said it did not know the basis on which foreign members were selected but was studying their profiles.

“We therefore demand that the appointing authority consider their own position as a potential subject of investigation as the deploying authority. This should be followed by the addition and refinement of the terms of reference to direct them more pointedly at the problem. The local members and/or the appointing authority should consider recusal from the commission,” it said.

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