Dialogue Must Be Guaranteed By SADC Or AU - MDC

Opposition MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa has said it was engaging SADC and other African countries, to help with the push for an all-inclusive dialogue aimed at ending the country’s decades-long political and economic crises.

Speaking to Daily News, MDC Alliance deputy Spokesperson, Clifford Hlatshwayo said Zimbabweans expected a genuine dialogue hence the need for an international organisation to be involved. He said:

Dialogue must be guaranteed by the international community, especially Sadc and the African Union.

The expectations of the people of Zimbabwe are to have a genuine dialogue and as such we must have an independent convenor, facilitator and venue.

MDC-T chairman, Morgen Komichi, also told the Daily News that they were intending to approach SADC to mediate the much talked about dialogue. He said:

Sadc is important. It must help Zimbabwe to have dialogue. Thus, the talks must be underwritten by Sadc. We want an African solution to our problems. So, Sadc is key in solving Zimbabwe’s situation.

We will soon approach Sadc to help mediate and guarantee the outcome of the planned negotiations.

We must all work to do away with toxic politics in the country … As Zimbabweans we must be united and be able to solve our problems.

Zanu-PF is also important if we want to have successful talks. Indeed, we need to involve all political players.

We must put aside our differences because people are suffering … We want to see this dialogue starting as soon as possible. We need to have unity before the 2023 elections.

MDC Alliance has made it clear that it does not want to join the Political Parties Dialogue (POLAD) platform that was initiated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to house candidates who had participated in the 2018 presidential election.

The party believes the platform was instituted to endorse president Mnangagwa’s presidency, which they say was as a result of a fraud election, therefore, “nothing meaningful” was to be expected from it.

SADC previously facilitated the talks between ZANU PF and oppositions, MDC-T and MDC-N which were then led by Morgan Tsvangirai and Auther Mutambara.

The talks culminated in a Government of National Unity in 2009 which analysts said worked to stabilise the economy.

Analysts believe the impasse between ZANU PF and the opposition is worsening the economic, humanitarian, and political crises in the country.

More: Daily News