Zimbabweans Remember Victims Of Harare 1 August 2018 Shootings

On August 1, 2018, the streets of Harare, Zimbabwe, became the scene of post-election violence that shocked the nation and the world. In the wake of this unrest, seven people were shot dead and died from gunshot wounds while 35 were injured.

In the wake of this unrest, which followed a historic election, Mnangagwa established the Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry to get to the bottom of what happened. Below, Gambakwe takes you through a detailed timeline of events, from the election announcement and protests to the commission’s findings, giving you a clear picture of the facts, the people involved, and the lasting impact on the victims.

Timeline of Events

• Election Date Announcement (May 30, 2018): President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in a government gazette, officially announced July 30, 2018, as the date for Zimbabwe’s general elections.

  Campaign Period (June-July 2018): Following the announcement, a campaign period commenced, with political parties, including the ruling ZANU-PF and the main opposition MDC-Alliance, campaigning across the country.

• Election Day (July 30, 2018): Zimbabweans went to the polls to cast their votes for presidential, parliamentary, and local government candidates.
• Post-Election Unrest (August 1, 2018): As the nation awaited the presidential election results, supporters of the opposition MDC-Alliance took to the streets of Harare’s Central Business District. They were protesting the delay in the release of results, alleging that the election was being rigged. The protests turned violent, with rioters engaging in property destruction.
• Security Force Response: The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) were initially deployed to contain the demonstrations but were overwhelmed. The military was subsequently called in to assist. This military deployment, while deemed justified by the commission given the threat to property and lives, was found to have followed an irregular chain of command. The military’s response involved firing warning shots and, critically, live ammunition directly at fleeing civilians. This excessive use of force resulted in casualties.
• Casualties: Six people were killed by gunshots and 35 were injured. A seventh person later died from injuries sustained during the protests. Significant property damage was also reported.
• Appointment of the Motlanthe Commission (August 29, 2018): In response to the national and international outcry, President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed a seven-member Commission of Inquiry, chaired by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, to investigate the post-election violence.
• Public Hearings (October 16 – Late November 2024): The commission held public hearings in Harare, gathering testimonies from a wide range of witnesses. These included top security officials like Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander Valerio Sibanda and Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, as well as political leaders such as Nelson Chamisa and Tendai Biti. Victims, eyewitnesses, health professionals, journalists, and civic society members also provided testimony.
• Commission Report Submission (Late November 2024): The commission concluded its public hearings ahead of schedule and submitted an executive summary of its report to President Mnangagwa.
• Public Release of Findings (December 18, 2024): President Mnangagwa publicly released some of the findings of the commission’s report. He also assured ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions on February 14, 2019, that the full report would be made public.
• Present Day (August 1, 2025): The full Motlanthe Commission report has not been comprehensively made available to the public. While an executive summary was submitted and some findings released, its full contents have not been widely disseminated, a situation that has drawn criticism from human rights groups.

Key Findings of the Motlanthe Commission

Based on the evidence and testimonies presented, the commission’s report established several agreed facts:

• Trigger of Violence: The violence was triggered by opposition supporters protesting the delayed release of presidential election results.
• Casualties and Damage: Six people were killed, 35 were injured, and property was damaged by rioters.
• Military’s Role: The commission concluded that the military’s deployment was justified to assist the overwhelmed police. However, the use of live ammunition directed at fleeing civilians was found to be unjustified and excessive, and it was this action that caused the deaths and injuries.
• Pre-Planned Protests: The demonstrations were deemed to have been pre-planned by the MDC-Alliance, although the party denied inciting violence.
• Contributing Factors: The report highlighted the role of deep political polarization and misinformation from partisan media and social media in fueling the unrest.

Recommendations

The Motlanthe Commission put forth a number of recommendations to address the causes of the violence and prevent future occurrences:

• Accountability: The report called for investigations into the military’s use of live ammunition, with those responsible for the unjustified shootings being held accountable through legal proceedings.
• Compensation: The government was urged to provide compensation and support to the families of the deceased and the injured.
• Legal and Command Reform: The commission recommended a review of the legal framework for deploying the military to assist police, ensuring clear and lawful command structures.
• Training and Equipment: Enhanced training on crowd control and the use of non-lethal equipment for security forces was recommended.
• Political Dialogue: The report encouraged inclusive political dialogue between the government and the opposition to reduce polarization.
• Media Regulation: Measures to combat misinformation and fake news were suggested.

Present Status of the Victims and Recommendations Implementation

• Victims: As of the present date, there is no public information indicating that a comprehensive compensation scheme for all victims has been established or that a compensation fund has been set up. While a committee was reportedly formed to oversee the payment of victims, families of those killed and injured have not been compensated. Some victims who suffered property damage from rioters may have received compensation, but this is not consistently applied to all. Some victims who were injured, such as Loveday Munesi, have resorted to suing the government, but their legal cases are ongoing. The deep grief and sense of injustice for the victims and their families continue.
• Implementation of Recommendations: The Zimbabwean government has not publicly provided a specific timeline for implementing the commission’s recommendations. While the government established a committee to oversee some of the recommendations, significant progress has been limited. The recommendation for accountability for security forces has not been widely acted upon, and no prosecutions have been publicly announced. The recommendation for legal and command structure reform is an area where some action has been taken, such as the repeal of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and its replacement with the Maintenance of Peace and Order (MOPA) Act. However, critics argue that the new legislation is a replacement of a similar nature. The call for political dialogue and media reform remains a contested issue in the country. The lack of full, public dissemination of the report itself has also been a point of contention, undermining the transparency and public confidence in the process.