By Advent Shoko
HARARE – Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa has paid tribute to the six people who were killed when soldiers opened fire on civilians in Harare on August 1, 2018, saying their deaths should continue to remind Zimbabwe of the need for justice, accountability and peace.
The shootings happened two days after Zimbabwe’s 2018 general elections, during a tense period when opposition activists accused the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of delaying to announce the presidential election results.
Opposition supporters gathered in central Harare, accusing ZEC of delaying the announcement and alleging that the delay was meant to manipulate the outcome in favour of then ZANU PF presidential candidate Emmerson Mnangagwa.
However, not everyone who died was part of the protest. Some victims were caught in the violence while going about their daily activities in the city centre.
Remembering the victims, Chamisa said Zimbabwe should never witness a repeat of such events.
“NEVER AGAIN…
Today, we remember and honor the victims of 1 August 2018. May their memories continue to inspire the pursuit of freedom, justice, accountability, and peace.
Rest in Power:
- Silvia Maphosa (53)
- Ishmael Kumire (43)
- Gavin Dean Charles (48)
- Jealous Chikandira (21)
- Brian Zhuwawo (26)
- Challenge Tauri (20)
A national army exists to protect the citizens. It is, in essence, a citizens’ army. It should never be deployed against the very citizens it is sworn to defend, nor used to shoot and kill unarmed civilians.
Never Again.
#NeverAgain“
The August 1 shootings became one of the most controversial moments in Zimbabwe’s post-election history, triggering criticism from human rights groups and international observers over the use of live ammunition against civilians.
ZEC later announced Mnangagwa as the winner of the presidential election. Chamisa rejected the result, arguing that the election had been manipulated, and approached the Constitutional Court seeking to overturn the outcome.
The court, led by then Chief Justice Luke Malaba, dismissed the challenge, ruling that Chamisa and his colleagues had failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove that the election result was invalid.
Motlanthe Commission Findings
Following the violence, President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed a Commission of Inquiry chaired by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe to investigate what happened.
The commission found that members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and the Zimbabwe Republic Police were responsible for deaths and injuries recorded during the disturbances.
It said while the deployment of the military had been triggered by a breakdown in public order, the use of live ammunition against civilians was unjustified and disproportionate.
The commission recommended several measures, including:
- Compensation for victims and families of those killed.
- Investigations into the deaths and possible prosecution of those responsible.
- Better training and clearer rules for security forces responding to public protests.
- Reforms to laws governing public demonstrations.
- Greater accountability within security institutions.
Although the government has taken some steps, including announcing compensation measures for some victims’ families, key recommendations around accountability and prosecution have remained unresolved.
Nearly eight years later, the August 1 shootings remain a major reference point in Zimbabwe’s discussions about elections, human rights and the role of security forces in civilian affairs.
For victims’ families and opposition supporters, the call for answers continues.
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