By A Correspondent- Two years on, soldiers who opened fire on protesters in Harare’s central business district in broad daylight in the aftermath of the general elections, killing at least six of them and causing injuries to scores more, have still not been held accountable for their actions.
This is despite recommendations by a commission led by the former president of South Africa Kgalema Mothlanthe that pepetrators of the August 1 shootings should face justice.
In its statement, the Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Southern Africa, Muleya Mwananyanda is on record saying that “the tragedy of the post-election shootings is compounded by the fact that no one in the army suspected to be responsible for the bloodshed has been held to account for these brutal killings”.
The army, which was illegally deployed, used live ammunition to disperse protests in the capital Harare, after delays in the release of the presidential election results by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
Despite the existence of video evidence exposing the perpetrators of the brutal murders through the media and social media videos and pictures, to date no-one has been brought to justice.
Said the Amnesty International:
“If the Zimbabwean government wants to demonstrate that it is committed to human rights, it needs to ensure that the wheels of justice start turning faster than they have done over the past year.”
After the shooting on 1 August 2018, the Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed that three people were killed when soldiers fired at demonstrators as they ran away.
The number was later confirmed to be six. Some of the injured and dead were shot from the back.
While the army also ordered journalists covering the protests to switch off their video recording equipment and cameras, they were captured live on video firing at fleeing, innocent civilians.
Law enforcement officials, according to International guidelines must use only minimum force necessary to contain the situation and must comply with the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials.
“Authorities must institute a thorough, effective and impartial investigations into the killings of protesters, some of whom were killed while fleeing, with those found to have acted unlawfully brought to justice through fair trials,” said Muleya.
However, Zimbabwean authorities have covered up for the killings and have ensured impunity for the perpetrators of the heinous crimes. The army has been rendered untouchable despite violating the basic principles of human rights.
Constitutional lawyers, political activists and members of the public’s pleas for justice have fallen on deaf ears. Following the release of the Mothlanthe Commission of Inquiry report which implicated soldiers and police for the death of civilians on the day in question, Constitutional and human rights lawyer Fadzayi Mahere said Mnangagwa should take the responsibility and apologize to the nation for this atrocity.
Instead, Mnangagwa elevated the Commander of the Presidential Guard Brigadier Anselem Sanyatwe to the rank of Major General, the same man who was in charge of the military unit that shot and killed civilians on the 1st of August.
Said Mahere:
“Respectfully, Mr President, Because the army was implicated in the killings and you are the Commander in Chief, surely it behoves you to take responsibility and at least apologize for the moment of madness? Why did you promote the commander involved if you regret this episode?”
The violence on 1 August 2018 followed the country’s elections on 30 July 2018. The vote combined presidential, parliamentary and local government elections.
Demonstrators were calling for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to expedite the release of the presidential election results after voting on 30 July.
Arguably, the police reportedly failed to contain the situation and sought the assistance of the military which fired live ammunition to unarmed civilians.
By end of 1 August 2018, at least six (6) people had been tragically killed; injury of thirty-five (35), and extensive damage and destruction of property had been caused.
Following these incidents, on 12 September 2018, Mnangagwa, appointed a Commission of Inquiry in terms of Section 2(1) of the Commission of Inquiry Act [Chapter 10:07] through Proclamation 6of 2018 published in Statutory Instrument 181 of 2018, to investigate matters of public welfare arising out of the tragic events in Harare on 1 August 2018.
The 7 member team comprised of Commissioners comprising of: His Excellency Kgalema Motlanthe (Former President of the Republic of South Africa), who chaired the Commission; Chief Emeka Anyaoku (Former Commonwealth Secretary General, Federal Republic of Nigeria); Rodney Dixon QC (United Kingdom); General Davis Mwamunyange (Former Chief of Tanzania People’s Defence Forces); Professor Charity Manyeruke (Political Science, University of Zimbabwe); Professor Lovemore Madhuku (Faculty of Law, University of Zimbabwe); and Mrs. Vimbai Nyemba (Former President of the Law Society of Zimbabwe).
The Commission made several recommendations. Some of the key ones concern:
a. Payment through a special Committee to be set up by the Government, of compensation for losses and damages caused including in particular, support and school fees for the children of the deceased;
b. Promotion of political tolerance, and responsible and accountable leadership and citizenry;
c. Electoral reforms including the development of Information Communication Technology (ICT), to among other things enhance the transparent and expeditious announcement of election results;
d. The enforcement of law and order in order to ensure that the events of the 1st of August 2018 are not repeated;
e. Accountability in respect of the alleged perpetrators; and
f. Nation building and reconciliation including an initiative for multi-party dialogue and cooperation.