documented.1 The security services in particular the Zimbabwe National Army accounted for 37% of the violence.2 Honorable Chairperson, we acknowledge the appointment of the Commission of Inquiry to investigate the shooting of civilians on the 1 st of August, 2018, although we have reservations on the composition of the Commission as some the members have openly declared their allegiance to the ruling party. It is our hope that the Commission will not be influenced by political persuasions and will maintain the values of independence, truth and accountability. Honorable Chairperson, the social, economic and political situation in Zimbabwe continues on a downward trend, with the ordinary citizens at the receiving end of the debilitating effects. The Minister of Finance in his recent fiscal policy statement acknowledged the economic challenges facing the country. 3 The deplorable socio economic situation has augmented high unemployment rates and a decline in the provision of basic social services. Prices of basic commodities have skyrocketed coupled with the scarcity of basic commodities and essential drugs, threatening the rights to food, water and healthcare. The growing dissatisfaction with the socioeconomic situation presents a risk of public protests and violence as was the case with the 1998 food riots and 2008. This situation is exacerbated by the lack of transparency by the government especially in designing economic programmes. These challenges raise a red flag of non-accountability regarding the government’s economic management and creates a real risk of grand corruption where people’s savings are looted in a manner that violates the law and the basic tenets and morals of transparency. As the economic meltdown persists, the government has accelerated its clampdown on informal traders who found a respite in the failed economy. The government continues to disregard the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms such as freedoms of assembly and association, freedom to demonstrate and petition and freedom of expression and of the media as enshrined in sections 58, 59 and 61 of the Constitution respectively. On the 11th of October 42 ZCTU members were arrested country wide in a bid to stop them from proceeding with their peaceful protest against government’s disastrous fiscal and monetary policies. Journalists continue to be assaulted and arrested during the scope of their employment. MISA- Zimbabwe documented a total of 15 cases of violation of freedom of the media. As civil society, we are concerned 1 See the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Post- Election Violence Monitoring Report 01-31 August 2018, available on, http://www.hrforumzim.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Post-ElectionViolence-Report-for-August-III.pdf 2 See the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Post- Election Violence Monitoring Report 01-31 August 2018, available on, http://www.hrforumzim.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Post-ElectionViolence-Report-for-August-III.pdf 3 According to Prof Mthuli, the following are some of the economic challenges, foreign currency and cash shortages; unsustainable high budget and current account deficits; emerging inflation pressures; slow moving re-engagement process; infrastructure deficiencies; and weak social service delivery. See the Fiscal Policy Statement, Fiscal Measures for Reversing Fiscal Disequilibrium, presented by Prof. Mthuli Ncube, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, 01 October 2018, Harare