WATCH LIVE as Gambakwe unpacks the trending stories from today.

Mnangagwa Replaces Chiwenga with Mohadi at Monitoring Event

  • President Mnangagwa yesterday removed Vice President Chiwenga from the monitoring and evaluation event program, replacing him with Vice President Mohadi. This resulted in the event officially opening three days after it had started. Chiwenga has reportedly been boycotting all events held in Mnangagwa’s office.

Key Events for Today

  1. President Mnangagwa arrives in Kenya.

Please watch the video above this post for more details.

 

Top Trending Stories

  1. Two Zimbabwean women die during wealth ritual. The manjuzu cult, which is spreading across Zimbabwe, involves appeasing a “water spirit” with rice, biscuits, and whisky. The spirit reportedly gives beneficiaries short-term wealth before taking their lives.
  2. Grant Chitate arrested for Exchange control violations. Chitate was arrested for transactions worth over $7 million dating from 2019 to the present.

Africa

  • Capitec CEO receives R150 Million Golden Handshake.

Entertainment

  • Faris Tembo fired from Celebration Church. Tembo was fired in January 2024 for a relationship with Pastor Changara. She had been suspended in April 2023 and received a settlement eight months after her firing.

Community

  • Mve TTwofor one promotion.

Feature: What Really Happened on 1 August 2018

This feature provides a comprehensive look at the post-election violence in Harare and the subsequent investigation by the Motlanthe Commission.

Timeline of the Motlanthe Commission

  • August 29, 2018: President Mnangagwa appoints the seven-member Motlanthe Commission, chaired by Mr. Kgalema Motlanthe, to investigate post-election violence in Harare.
  • October 16, 2018: Public hearings begin in Harare. Testimonies are heard from top security officials, political leaders (including Nelson Chamisa and Tendai Biti), and various witnesses.
  • Late November 2018: The commission concludes its public hearings ahead of the three-month deadline.
  • Late November 2018: The commission compiles its report, including oral and documentary evidence.
  • Late November 2018: The commission submits an executive summary of the report to President Mnangagwa.
  • November 29, 2018 (estimated): The three-month deadline for the commission to submit its final report.

Key Witnesses

  • Security Officials: Valerio Sibanda (Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander), Brigadier-General Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe (Presidential Guard), Godwin Matanga (Police Commissioner-General), Chief Superintendent Albert Ncube.
  • Political Leaders: Nelson Chamisa (MDC-Alliance), Tendai Biti (MDC-Alliance), Obert Mpofu (Zanu-PF), Linda Masarira (MDC-T).
  • Victims and Eyewitnesses: Adrian Munjere, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Elliot Piki, Makomborero Haruzivishe, and others.
  • Activists: Mayo Ncube, Welcome Moyo, Marshal Sibanda, Wisdom Mkwananzi.
  • Health Professionals: Norman Matara and other practitioners who attended to victims.
  • Legal and Government Officials: Attorney General Prince Machaya.
  • Journalists: Violet Gonda, Pauline Chateuka, Gilbert Nyambavhu, Idah Mhetu, and an unnamed journalist.
  • Other Witnesses: Bereaved families, members of the public, civic society members, mortuary attendants, and ballistic experts.

Commission’s Findings and Outcome

Based on testimonies and evidence, the Motlanthe Commission’s report found:

  • Context of Violence: Violence erupted on August 1, 2018, in Harare after delays in releasing presidential election results, with protests initiated by MDC-Alliance supporters.
  • Casualties: Six people were killed and 35 were injured.
  • Police Response: Police were overwhelmed by the demonstrators.
  • Military Deployment: The military was deployed to assist police, which was deemed justified. However, the deployment followed an irregular chain of command and troops were not placed under police control.
  • Use of Force: The commission found that while warning shots were proportionate, the use of live ammunition against fleeing civilians was unjustified and excessive.
  • Pre-Planning: The demonstrations were pre-planned by the MDC-Alliance, though they denied inciting violence.
  • Polarization: The report highlighted deep political polarization, fueled by partisan media and fake news.

Key Recommendations

The commission’s recommendations included:

  • Legal and Command Reform: A review of the legal framework for deploying the military.
  • Training for Security Forces: Enhanced training on crowd control and the use of non-lethal force.
  • Accountability: Investigations into the use of live ammunition, with those responsible held accountable.
  • Political Dialogue: Urging political leaders to engage in dialogue to address underlying tensions.
  • Compensation: The government should compensate the families of victims.
  • Public Awareness: Campaigns to promote peaceful conflict resolution.

Implementation Status and Publication

  • Implementation: The commission’s report did not specify a timeline for implementing its recommendations. The responsibility for implementation lies with the Zimbabwean government. As of August 1, 2025, no official timeline has been made public.
  • Publication: The full Motlanthe Commission report has not been made public. While an executive summary was submitted in late 2018 and some findings were released, the complete report has not been widely disseminated. In a meeting with ambassadors on February 14, 2019, President Mnangagwa assured them the report would be made public, but this has not yet occurred.

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