Media to give evidence to Zim post-election shooting

by MARCUS MUSHONGA 
HARARE, (CAJ News) – FORMER South African President Kgalema Motlanthe’s Commission of Inquiry into post election violence that led to Zimbabwe soldiers open fire killing at least six protesters has extended invitation to mainstream media to come forward with own submissions.

The call was made ahead of Friday’s deadline for acceptance of those with compelling information of what transpired on the fateful day that resulted in the death of six protesters demanding presidential election outcome.

Among the mainstream media invited to make submissions comprise South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Al Jazeera and state owned media of The Herald, Sunday Mail, Power FM, Star FM and Capitalk.

Local independent media invited include The Zimbabwe Independent and daily’s NewsDay are expected to make own submissions before Friday’s deadline.

The Motlanthe Commission also invited political parties and organisations such as the ruling ZANU-PF, opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-Alliance), participating presidential candidates, soldiers from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), police, human rights and civic groups, among others.

The commission, which is largely made up of law experts is headed by
former SA head of state Motlanthe, United Kingdom international law expert Rodney Dixon, former Commonwealth secretary general Emeka Anyaoku (Nigeria), former Tanzania People’s Defence Forces Commander Retired General Davis Mwamunyange, University of Zimbabwe lecturers Professors Lovemore Madhuku and Charity Manyeruke and former Law Society of Zimbabwe president Vimbai Nyemba.

The commission announced it had received more than 60 both written and oral submissions from witnesses and victims.

The Commission of Inquiry was set by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to probe into the deadly post-election violence that claimed six lives with several others injured while public property, including cars were burnt.

The violence broke out on 1 August as opposition aligned activists
demanded the presidential election outcome.

– CAJ News