CHAPTER 1 1.0. 1.1. INTRODUCTION The establishment of the Commission and its terms of reference Zimbabwe held its national elections on the 30th of July 2018. The elections were harmonised to include the Local Authorities, Parliamentary and Presidential elections. The entire electoral process up to the 31st of July 2018, was generally considered peaceful by all stakeholders, including the election observers. On the 1st of August 2018, two days after the official closing of the voting stations, groups of people assembled at various points in the Harare Central Business District (CBD) to demand the immediate release of the election results. The number of demonstrators increased and the situation degenerated from peaceful to violent protests. The police failed to contain the situation and sought the assistance of the military. By the end of the 1st of August 2018, six (6) people had been tragically killed, several others injured, and extensive damage and destruction of property had been caused. On the 12th of September 2018, following these events, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, appointed a Commission of Inquiry in terms of section 2(1) of the Commissions of Inquiry Act [Chapter 10:07 ] through Proclamation 6 of 2018 published in Statutory Instrument 181 of 2018, to investigate matters of public welfare arising 1