Herald employee narrates his account:
On 1 August I got to Market Square at 11.30. When I disembarked from the kombi, I saw a group of people who were singing. These people were singing while walking along Mbuya Nehanda road coming to Market Square. As a person traveling to work, I normally take 15 min ffrom Mrket Square to Herald House, which is my work place.
I proceeded to Herald House I got there at 11.50. We assumed duty well, but when it was around 1420hrs, we heard voices of people who were singing. We went to 4th Floor trying to peep through so that we could see people who were singing. We then saw people we were able to identify as MDC youths wearing red t shirts who were singing political songs, coming from Jason Moyo getting into 2nd Street. They passed through the Herald House and went into Nelson Mandela proceeding to the former MDC headquarters Harvest House. They took a bit of time while they were there, maybe for about 15 to 20 minutes. After that they returned singing along 2nd Street, and they got into Jason Moyo going towards 4th street. In no time at all, we saw some smoke suggesting that something had been burnt. At that moment we then saw a group of people singing returning using Jason Moyo. We then gave our guards instructions to close the entrance door to 2nd Street.
QUESTION: From what you observed this group you saw returning, was it the same group that you had seen previously?
ANSWER: I do think so but I think when they returned the number had increased.
These people when they returned to herald House, they tried to enter into our 2nd Street entrance. They saw that we had locked our doors. They then started throwing stones… Two stones hit the 1st Floor and two big window panes were subsequently damaged. Others turned towards the George Silundika when they got there they tried to forcefully enter, however the doors had been locked. One of them picked a big stone which was across the road, using that big stone…I would like to believe that he thought the door would be …. (sic) When they realised that they could not open the road, the proceeded to …. They continued singing political songs while returning to Hrvest House. I observed that they then began sounding out what sounded like their political party slogans.
At 1545 hrs, we went to make a police report at a police post which is 1st Street. That is all that I can say which transpired on the 1st August at my workplace.
QUESTION: 2 questions – re you able to tell the commission what it is that they were singing?
ANSWER: Like what I said before, they were singing political songs.
QUESTION: Did you hear what they were singing?
ANSWER: Yes I heard some of the songs.
QUESTIONS: Are you able to tell the commission?
ANSWER: I am not in a position to sing what they were singing…
One of them was leading as they were singing , then others were also supporting as they were singing, so their song which I will quote in vernacular – “VachiDiki Tinoda Chamisa!”
…
…
QUESTION:
ANSWER: Some of them were visibly drunk especially those who were leading.
ANYTHING ELSE ELSE YOU MAY WANT TO SAY?
ANSWER: No none…
QUESTION: The Chair may have questions.
HEARING IS ADJOURNED