Own Correspondent|LEADER of the opposition MDC, Nelson Chamisa, has said he will only present himself before the Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 shootings if President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputies are also invited to appear before the Commission.

Chamisa’s latest stance follows the decision by the team headed by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe to subpoena him and other top MDC officials to appear before the Commission which is looking into the events surrounding the August 1 shootings in Harare.

Addressing a press conference in Harare this Thursday morning, MDC Secretary-General Douglas Mwonzora has confirmed that Nelson Chamisa, MDC Vice President Morgen Komichi, MDC Deputy Chairman Tendai Biti as well as former ZanuPF Harare Provincial Political Commissar Shadreck Mashayamombe have all received subpoenas calling them to testify before the Commission of Inquiry next week.

Mashayamombe is now an MDC member, having fallen out of favour with his erstwhile comrades in ZanuPF.

Speaking at the press briefing, Mwonzora said the MDC officials will present themselves before the Commission provided certain legal conditions have been met, although he did not clarify the set conditions.

According to Nelson Chamisa, he will only appear if President Mnangagwa and his two deputies are also called to testify.

“Following statements by the army and police generals at the Commission of Inquiry hearings, we’re now prepared for the worst,” Chamisa said Thursday morning.

He added: “The MDC is however prepared to provide leadership to the people of Zimbabwe to enter into Canaan.”

Mwonzora has also rubbished claims by former MDC MP and founding member Gabriel Chaibva who appeared before the Commission this week Tuesday.

“The MDC youths most likely shot themselves playing around with a pistol. They were definitely not shot by the army,” Chaibva told the Commission.

Chaibva, who now leads an NGO called Free and Fair Foundation after “quitting politics”, said he saw youths at the MDC headquarters on August 1 getting drugged by hot substances.

“I saw youths on August 1 in the morning being given “hot stuff” at their party headquarters. l also saw a lot of smoke and l don’t think it was from our normal Madison,” Chaibva said.

“The MDC wanted nothing short of dead bodies to push their agenda after the July 30 elections,” said Chaibva.

Chaibva has also said that MDC youths had a pistol and were smoking “something that is not like our usual Madison.”

Mwonzora has dismissed Chaibva as a disgruntled former MDC Member who has “since joined ZanuPF.”