safe before and after approaching the Commission with evidence or complaints. The point for the NPRC to establish a Victims/Survivors’ Welfare Unit as with the other special units established now cannot be overemphasized. The Ethics and Integrity Committee and the Conduct of Traditional Leaders in Zimbabwe Section 287 of the Constitution provides for an Act of Parliament that must establish the Integrity and Ethics Committee to develop and enforce integrity and ethical conduct on the part of traditional leaders; resolving disputes between traditional leaders and dealing with complaints against traditional leaders. Traditional leaders have, since the colonial era, been associated with unethical political activity. The Forum has on several times, litigated against named traditional leaders implicated in gross violation of human rights. Traditional leaders have further been involved in electoral fraud matters. Interventions by the Civil Society In the absence of the EIC, civil society has resorted to litigating against traditional leaders implicated in violations of human rights including hate speech, electoral fraud and intimidation. There is a High Court Judgment in a matter filed by the Election Resources Centre against Chief Charumbira who is the President of the Chief’s Council in which the court ruled that his statements in support of the ruling party violate the constitution. The Commission of Inquiry into the 1 August Shootings and Interventions by the Civil Society Zimbabwe held its national elections on the 30th of July 2018. On 26 July 2018, NTJWG issued an alert regarding several factors which indicated hate speech, the involvement of the military in politics, failure by the election management body to resolve disputes amicably among other issues. NTJWG warned that if these issues were not resolved, they would lead to bloodshed. ANNUAL REPORT 2018 On 1 August 2018, protests broke out in Harare with protestors demanding the release of presidential election results. The military responded by opening live ammunition on unarmed civilians, killing at least six people. Following these incidents, the President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed a Commission of Inquiry (COI) in terms of section 2(1) of the Commissions of Inquiry Act [Chapter 10:07] through Proclamation Number 6 of 2018 published in Statutory Instrument 181 of 2018. In December 2018, the COI which was chaired by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe released its report finding that the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) officers had killed innocent people and recommended an investigation. The Government did not carry out any investigations. Instead, on January 14, the ZNA and ZRP officers once again opened fire on unarmed civilians killing an estimated 17 people and injuring over 87 people. The Government has refused to acknowledge the killings despite post-mortem reports showing that the deceased died from gunshot wounds. This is evidence of impunity and a total disregard for the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry. b. Interventions by Civil Society The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) has compiled dossiers from the victims of the shooting and their families. A video report has since been published. Several cases have since been filed with the High Court seeking compensation for the pain and suffering experienced because of the actions of the police. 18