MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has expressed appreciation over the recent visit by a delegation of the South African ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC) to Zimbabwe.
Chamisa hailed Ace Magashule and his comrades for holding “frank” discussions with ZANU PF officials in Harare on Wednesday over reports of a crisis in the country that has sent millions of Zimbabweans across the region.
The opposition leader said ZANU PF has lost its revolutionary credentials by negating Zimbabweans’ fundamental rights and the party has, in fact, become counter-revolutionary. Said Chamisa:
Thank you, ANC for a frank and principled engagement! Any liberation history or relationship that negates human rights, people’s fundamental freedoms, holding of credible elections and respecting of the WILL of the people is hollow and counter-revolutionary. There is a crisis in Zimbabwe!
In a statement articulating the party’s position regarding the visit by the ANC delegation to Zimbabwe on Tuesday night and subsequent meetings with ZANU PF officials on Wednesday, MDC Alliance secretary-general Chalton Hwende said:
As the MDC Alliance, we would like to thank the ANC and the delegation led by Secretary-General Ace Magashule for taking time to visit Zimbabwe and help the country to end the political crisis caused by the 2018 Disputed Elections. The torture and abduction of citizens must stop.
Magashule told South African media on Thursday morning that the ANC would make a follow-up meeting with opposition political parties and other stakeholders in Zimbabwe in the next two to three weeks.
Addressing the media earlier in Harare, Magashule revealed that Simba Makoni of the (Mavambo/Kusile) party, ZAPU, Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, MDC Alliance, as well as United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe (Brian Nichols) had requested to meet the delegation.