Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday announced a seven-member Commission of Inquiry into the post-election violence that resulted in the death of six people when soldiers opened fire on protesting opposition supporters in Harare on Aug. 1. The commission, made up of local, regional and international members, is chaired by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe and will be sworn in by Mnangagwa next week. After completing its investigations, the commission is expected to make recommendations and report to Mnangagwa within three months from the date of its swearing in. Foreign members of the commission are Rodney Dickson QC from Britain, former Commonwealth secretary-general Emeka Anyaoku of Nigeria and former chief of defense forces of Tanzania Davies Mwamunyange. Mnangagwa said he had appointed the Commission of Inquiry in order to deal with the matter in a transparent manner and in the public interest. Post-election violence erupted in the streets of Harare two days after the July 30 polls when opposition supporters held protests against alleged vote rigging and the delay in the announcement of the presidential election results. This resulted in the death of six people while many others were injured when soldiers, called out by police to help quell the protests, opened fire on the protesters. Mnangagwa has regretted the deaths and blamed the opposition MDC Alliance for the violence while many election observers present at the time deplored the violence and use of excessive force by the military. Xinhua
