Correspondent|KHULUMA Africa journalist, Maynard Manyowa yesterday said some of the victims of the August 1, 2018 post-election violence were shot while they were in the midst of a crowd with no soldiers in sight. Manyowa also said the protesters were chanting pro-Nelson Chamisa songs.

Manyowa told the Kgalema Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry he did not see any soldiers when Ishmael Kumene, was fatally shot adjacent to the intersection of Cameron Street and Jason Moyo Avenue during protests by so called MDC-Alliance supporters.

Said Manyowa: “A group of protesters were running and as they were running, I noticed a guy wearing black and he took two steps and tumbled down.

“At the time he took those steps, there had been people behind him, but there were no soldiers at the time. I don’t know who shot the guy.

“There were gunshots going all over the directions. I think it could be people in the crowd who fired shots.”

Manyowa said soldiers came in when protesters had turned violent and had disabled the police anti-riot water canon tank with one blow of a brick launched by a protester.

“Two gentlemen launched bricks towards the police water canon and hit the muzzle, when they hit the muzzle, the water canon immediately flooded, and that caused water leakages near the gate,” he said.

Manyowa said the victim he witnessed getting shot was in the middle of a crowd and there were other people behind him.

He said the protesters were MDC supporters because they were chanting Chamisa slogans.

“A group of protesters besieged the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s Results Centre at the Rainbow Towers Hotel in the capital, Harare.

“They protested peacefully and co-operated with police. It was quite an incredible sight, watching protesters pave way for traffic, taking turns with the police to open and close the gate.

“Some 20 minutes later, they left. Some one hour later they returned, with new company. Armed with sticks and stones. This time cars were blocked, police were stoned. A few colleagues and I received a few bricks to the back as we fled.

Another teenage victim, Simeon Chipokosa said when he was shot in the leg, he was in the middle of a fleeing crowd. Chipokosa says did not see any soldiers although he heard gunshots. He says he still has a bullet lodged in his body.