HARARE – On the third anniversary of the August 1, 2018, killings by Zimbabwe’s military following disputed elections, the MDC Alliance on Sunday called for the prosecution of those behind the atrocities.
A commission of inquiry led by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe found that soldiers shot at unarmed opposition supporters in central Harare as they marched to demand the prompt release of results. Six people were killed, including innocent bystanders.
In two key recommendations, the commission said there should be accountability by the perpetrators and the Zimbabwe government should also compensate victims, including 35 people who suffered gunshot wounds.
Despite pledges by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to arrest those behind the killings, the government has not taken any steps to implement the Motlanthe recommendations.
“The failure to bring the perpetrators of August 1, 2018, military violence to book confirms that there is nothing new about Mnangagwa’s dispensation,” MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said.
She said Mnangagwa’s regime was a “continuation of the rogue, violent repression we witnessed under Robert Mugabe.”
“Instead of addressing the scourge of violence and impunity, the regime in Harare is attempting to cover its deficiencies through the creation of a client opposition that has no mandate from the people,” Mahere said, making reference to apparent Zanu PF moves to split the MDC Alliance while diverting statutorily-due funds to its opposition proxy.
Mnangagwa was declared the narrow winner of the 2018 presidential election as he avoided a run-off election by around 35,000 votes, according to the official tally.
MDC Alliance rival Nelson Chamisa refused to concede, maintaining that he had won, but his court challenge was tossed out by the Constitutional Court amid swelling anger among his supporters who maintain that the election was stolen.
