Today(yesterday) marks the second anniversary of the 1st of August 2018 shootings, an episode in respect of which at least 6 compatriots were shot and killed in cold blood.

The families of the deceased are yet to get justice despite the findings of the Motlanthe Commission against the State including the recommendation to arrest the perpetrators.

The MDC Alliance views the episode as a clear sign of a failure to break from the past despite a facade of reform which had been mooted by the Mnangagwa adminstration.

It was a continuation of other episodes including Gukurahundi,the violence in the run up to 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2008 elections, abductions of Itai Dzamara, killings of Tonderai Ndira, Godfrey Kauzani and Talent Mabika among others.

We demand justice for the victims of 1 August 2018.

We also demand the operationalization of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commision including ensuring it’s full independence.

We also demand the urgent establishment of the Independent Complains Mechanism against members of the security forces provided in section 210 of the Constitution.

More importantly there must be an end to the capture of State institutions including the army and police in pursuit of a narrow partisan agenda of power retention.

Our security services must be left to do their work of protecting the territorial intergrity of our country and maintaining law and order following the conduct spelt out in section 208 of the Constitution.

Clifford Hlatywayo
Deputy National Spokesperson