The rapporteur of the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) forum Kwanele Hlabangana has written to the Editor of ZIMLIVE, an online publication making some clarifications on the letters the forum sent to the United States Senate earlier this year.
Hlabangana was responding to a ZIMLIVE article which suggested that the Zimbabwean government paid a United States lobbying firm to project MDC-T president Thokozani Khupe as the legitimate leader of Zimbabwe’s opposition.
We present Hlabangani’s response in full below.
The Editor Mr Mduduzi Mathuthu ZIMLIVE Dear Mr Mathuthu, RE: RESPONSE TO ZIMLIVE ARTICLE ON POLAD DATED 16 JULY 2020
The above subject refers.
This letter serves as our response to your Article on POLAD, dated 16th July 2020. While we appreciate your interest in the activities of POLAD and your critical role in society as the media, that of communicating and informing the public on socio-economic issues, we would like to assist you with some facts with regards to your article, so that you may accurately communicate the issue to the public.
“The Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD)’s objective is to contribute to social economic and political progress in Zimbabwe. In conducting our activities, we have worked with numerous organisations around the world in that endeavour. Re-engaging with the West’ is vital for Zimbabwe’s future. Growing our trade and political relationships will help us strengthen our economy and improve the lives of our citizens”
“For the record, as the POLAD International Relations and Re-engagement Sub-Committee, we independently initiated contacts and wrote our own letters to US Congressmen and Senators in planning for an re-engagement trip to the United States in March 2020, which was later aborted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown”.
As such, we make no apologies for initiating discussions that can help achieve our objective and improve Zimbabwe’s relationship with the West.
Yours Sincerely,
Kwanele Hlabangana Rapporteur — POLAD International Relations and Re-engagement Sub-Committee TOWARDS A NATIONAL CONSENSUS FOR POLITICAL STABILITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN ZIMBABWE THROUGH DIALOGUE