Former South African President Thabo Mbeki is set to return to Zimbabwe at the end of January to resume his mediation efforts between President Emmerson Mnangagwa, MDC leader Nelson Chamisa and other fringe political parties under the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) banner.
Mbeki’s expected second coming was confirmed by Chwani Mtetwa, first secretary for political affairs at the South African Embassy in Harare. Mtetwa told Business Times:
We know that former South Africa President Thabo Mbeki is supposed to be coming back at the end of this month to resume the political dialogue between Zanu PF and MDC leaders and we will let you know once we have information on the matter as we are in the process of communicating with him.
Mbeki was in the country last month supposedly on the invitation of the government but ended up meeting various political players, including Chamisa (twice) and POLAD members.
He was expected to return to Zimbabwe after the Christmas holiday but failed to turn up, with no reason being given for his no-show.