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Zimbabwean police have reportedly said that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is the reason why they have not arrested the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party leader Nelson Chamisa for "inciting violence", which led to a deadly military crackdown on August 1.
According to New Zimbabwe.com, police boss, Godwin Matanga told the Kgalema Motlanthe led commission of Inquiry into the deadly August violence at a heading in Harare this week that they had not picked up Chamisa because of "Mnangagwa's mooted plan to constitutionally formalise the position of leader of the Opposition".
"I still feel that it would be very improper to arrest the leader of the opposition party in the name of Nelson Chamisa because this is a position that was formed by the president," Matanga was quoted as saying.
Matanga claimed that Chamisa was assisted by a Kenyan lawyer, Silas Jakakimba, to incite "violence" in Harare, as opposition supporters protested against delays in announcing results of the country's first elections without former ruler Robert Mugabe.
The violent pretests were, however, suppressed by the army, which swept in with gunfire to disperse the protesters, an Associated Press report said.
At least six people died.
Mnangagwa set up a commission of inquiry, headed by Motlanthe, to probe the killings.
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