Commission of inquiry requests extension of deadline

By Tichaona Sibanda
11 August 2006

A commission of inquiry investigating the assault on Harare North MP Trudy Stevenson has requested an extension of time to complete its work. Its believed they need at least two more weeks.

The chairman of the commission, Advocate Happias Zhou, has been in touch with the Tsvangirai led MDC to seek permission for the extension.

Secretary-general Tendai Biti said the commission was supposed to have completed its work by the 31st July under its initial terms of reference. The commission was appointed to investigate events of the 4th July where Stevenson and a group of officials accompanying her were seriously assaulted by a group of people in Mabvuku.

Police in Harare arrested some of those who allegedly took part in the attack, which included Mabvuku and Tafara MP Timothy Mubhawu.

‘The commission has done extensive work, which has involved interviewing the victims of the assault including Stevenson and those that have been accused of the assault including Mubhawu. In addition, the commission has made several visits to Mabvuku and has conducted an inspection in loco at the scene of the assault,’ Biti said.

Despite all this said Biti the commission has not completed its work and expects to do so soon, after which we will forward its report to the national executive of the party. The report will also be made public when it is ready.