Church Leaders Escalate Push For National Dialogue

The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) will launch the National Convergence Platform (NCP) on 13 December, a platform that will allow a coming together of non-political actors who believe that national dialogue is the panacea to Zimbabwe’s perennial problems.

This was revealed by ZHOCD secretary-general Kenneth Mtata in a statement on Monday. He said:

Explorations are at an advanced stage to have one eminent African to speak at the launch in addition to the colourful array of our local speakers.

Such convergence is a huge breakthrough considering there were many voices talking about the national dialogue without a common position.

In August this year, ZHOCD urged President Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC leader Nelson Chamisa to explore the possibility of accelerating much-needed dialogue in this time of deepening national division and despair.

In October, the clergymen called for a suspension of elections for seven years to allow for the rebuilding of trust and confidence and allow the country to chart a shared way forward towards a comprehensive economic recovery path in a non-competitive political environment.

More: NewsDay