George Charamba, the Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications), said that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has closed the door to any dialogue with opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.
Charamba’s remarks came in response to an appeal by economist Gift Mugano, who had called on Zimbabweans across the political divide to engage in dialogue to resolve the country’s pressing problems. 
Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Mugano argued that Zimbabweans have overcome their challenges in the past when they united. He wrote:
<blockquote>
Fellow Zimbabweans, we have it on record that when we sit down and dialogue as Zimbabweans, we make progress as a country.
Striking examples of what dialogue can do are the talks between ZANU and ZAPU; and ZANU PF and MDC which produced the 1987 Unity Accord and GNU, respectively.
Likewise, we have it on record that when we unite, we move mountains. We united as one people against the Smith Regime and defeated them during our hard-won armed struggle.
Demonstrations will not help us to resolve our differences/challenges. Likewise, crackdown on citizens will not help us to resolve our challenges/differences…
I appeal to our leaders from the business community, churches, civil society, political parties, GOZ, academics, labour, etc to rise to the challenge and provide leadership towards the establishment of an inclusive dialogue aimed at providing permanent solutions to our differences/challenges.
</blockquote>
Doubling down on his rejection of dialogue with opposition Chamisa, Charamba dismissed the prospect, saying the ship has already sailed for dialogue.
Charamba accused Mugano and human rights lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu of “misleading” Chamisa, which Charamba claimed ultimately drove the opposition figure into the political “wilderness.” Said Charamba:
<blockquote>
Professor, here is my honest view from inside: Nguva yataida nhaurirano yakapfuura. That’s the truth. Those keen on talks took up the chance and are communicating with the State.
Those who chose to stay out of dialogue because of cheap advice from you naAdvocate Fulcrum, will remain outside the circuit of dialogue.
What you are harvesting are the disutilities of your amateurish political exuberance in the run-up to elections.
You fortified Chamisa on the wrong; today he is the wilderness you created, and you want to sound constructive, reasonable and level-headed.
You are part of the cabal of pseudo-intellectuals who misled the young man. Today you seek to salve your conscience by abortively appearing to re-negotiate for his Second Coming. IT CAN’T!
</blockquote>
Chamisa has been without a political home since January of this year when he abruptly announced that he had quit the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party – the same organisation he had helped form in 2022 – alleging that it had been infiltrated by the ruling ZANU PF party.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

President Mnangagwa doesn't want to talk to Chamisa. Some people want everyone to talk and work together to fix problems. But Mnangagwa says it's too late for that. He thinks Chamisa's supporters gave him bad advice. Chamisa left his political party because he thought it was controlled by the ruling party. Chamisa doesn't have a political home right now.

Mnangagwa Shuts Door On Dialogue With Chamisa, Says Charamba

CCC has warned Roman Catholic priest Father Fidelis Mukonori that he risks losing the respect that he commanded over the years if he takes sides in political disputes in Zimbabwe.
Mukonori was quoted by a local daily publication as saying CCC leader Nelson Chamisa should concede defeat in the 23 August presidential election and seek dialogue with President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) declared Mnangagwa the winner with 52.6% of the total votes cast while Chamisa garnered 44%. However, Chamisa has rejected the results, calling the election a “gigantic fraud”.
Responding to Mukonori’s call for dialogue, CCC spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi said the opposition party is open to dialogue but not on the “winner versus loser” conditions outlined by Mukonori. 
Below is Mkwananzi’s full response to Mukonori’s cal for dialogue posted on X:
<blockquote>
A Response to Father Mukonori’s Call for Dialogue.
Noting the statement from Father Mukonori, it is essential to put things into perspective before responding to his call.
While Father Mukonori, has for years been a respected Father figure of the church in Zimbabwe, his conspicuous role in the events that led to the deposing of President Robert Mugabe through a coup by Mr. Mnangagwa diminished his societal standing and the respect he once enjoyed.
His skewed statements in today’s Herald Newspaper further affirm the questions that Zimbabweans have about the relationship Father Mukonori has with the Mnangagwa regime.
Father Mukonori ought to extricate himself from this partisan position if he is to retain the respect that he commanded over the years. 
At the very least, the electoral sham of August 2023 did not pass the test for an election. In other words, the events of the 23rd &amp; 24th of August 2023 cannot be a basis for Father Mukonori to talk about “winners &amp; losers”.
This is the position commonly held by all observer Missions that observed the elections. In short, if ever there would be dialogue in Zimbabwe, it would not take place on the basis of a winner and a loser but on the basis of two of Zimbabwe’s political leaders namely President [Nelson Chamisa and [Emmerson Mnangagwa].
Their dialogue would need to take place outside the purview of the ill-fated &amp; illegal POLAD Framework-a feeding trough for fringe political “leaders” who only care about their stomachs &amp; the benefits extended to them by Mr. Mnangagwa to undermine the leading party in Zimbabwe: the [CCC].
Accordingly, a genuine bilateral framework for dialogue will need to be facilitated between the two political leaders.
In addition, the dialogue must include several other key Stakeholders such as the church, civil society, Business, women, youth, informal traders, etc.
The dialogue must be underwritten by [SADC] from the outset &amp; be confined to only one objective: To establish a Transitional Authority whose sole mandate would be to deal with all issues that hinder a free &amp; fair election in Zimbabwe such as the disbanding of ZEC, political &amp; media reforms etc &amp; the conduction of a fresh, free &amp; fair election within the shortest practicable time to save Zimbabwe &amp; indeed the region which may suffer the most from the spillover effects of Zimbabwe’s incessant electoral disputes.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

CCC Responds To Father Mukonori's Call For Dialogue

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said all opposition leaders in Zimbabwe are free to approach him through the <a href="https://pindula.co.zw/POLAD_(Political_Actors_Dialogue)">Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD)</a> platform and should not use proxies, the media, and third parties.
This is despite the fact that Mnangagwa met MDC-T leader <a href="https://pindula.co.zw/Douglas_Mwonzora">Douglas Mwonzora</a> at State House in January 2022 outside POLAD.
Mwonzora, who was controversially elected MDC-T president, was not a POLAD member when he met Mnangagwa to present his proposals for national dialogue.
Mnangagwa has refused to meet <a href="https://pindula.co.zw/Nelson_Chamisa">Nelson Chamisa</a>, who is the leader of arguably the country’s largest opposition party, CCC.
In an interview with the Third Eye and Brick By Brick magazines this week, Mnangagwa said he was open to meeting the country’s opposition leaders. <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/opposition-leaders-free-to-approach-president/">He said</a>:
<blockquote>
He goes to the press to want to talk to me, if you want to talk to me, come to me, not the press.
I will not reply to statements in the press. A solid leader knows what to do if you want to talk to a colleague.
</blockquote>
POLAD is a dialogue platform created by Mnangagwa following calls for the need for dialogue with the opposition to find solutions for the country’s problems.
Mnangagwa launched the platform on 17 May 2019, with 17 leaders of political parties that contested in the July 2018 elections in attendance.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Chamisa Knows Where To Find Me, Says President Mnangagwa

The President of the Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs, Chief Fortune Charumbira, has urged President Emmerson Mnangagwa and opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa to engage in dialogue for the good of the country.
He jokingly said Mnangagwa and Chamisa should have tea together and “bring their own tea leaves if worried about poisoning.”
Chief Charumbira made the remarks at the funeral of the mother to CCC’s Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume in Masvingo.
Watch the video below:
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Chief Charumbira Calls For Mnangagwa-Chamisa Dialogue

MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora on Wednesday said political and electoral reforms in the country will only come through dialogue, not confrontation.
Mwonzora said ZANU PF has a huge majority in Parliament, therefore, political parties should come to the negotiating table to discuss ways to move the country forward.
Addressing journalists at the Bulawayo Media Centre on Wednesday, Mwonzora said:
Our position as a party is that we cannot avoid dialogue in order to achieve key reforms.
<blockquote>
The reality we have to live with is that ZANU PF enjoys a supermajority in Parliament, and they have been the majority since 2013.
If we are to go via dialogue, it means that we agree and what we would have agreed will then be processed through Parliament.
If we are to amend the Electoral Act, for example, we need to agree and cooperate with legislators from across the political spectrum.
</blockquote>
Mwonzora said in the history of Zimbabwe, key political reforms have come through dialogue and he cited the Lancaster House agreement of 1979 which brought about the majority rule in the country and the 1987 Unity Accord which brought an end to Gukurahundi. He said:
<blockquote>
This is what happened throughout the history of the country. In 1979, the issue of majority rule was a key political reform, and it came via dialogue.
The disturbances in Matabeleland after independence were stopped via dialogue which led to the signing of the Unity Accord between the warring parties.
People can argue about the content of the Unity Accord itself and whether one party won more than the other, but that is beside the point at this point and time.
The fact of the matter is that the Accord came via dialogue.
</blockquote>
Mwonzora also cited the talks between ZANU PF and the two MDC formations facilitated by SADC in 2008 which culminated in the signing of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) and the formation of the Government of Unity (GNU) in 2009. | <a href="https://newziana.co.zw/2022/09/14/key-reforms-will-only-come-through-dialogue-not-confrontation-mwonzora/">New Ziana</a>

Key Reforms Will Only Come Through Dialogue, Not Confrontation, Says Mwonzora

CCC leader Nelson Chamisa has denied claims that he is engaged in talks with President Emmerson Mnangagwa to form a government of national unity (GNU).
Last week President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba claimed that Chamisa was behind the proposal by the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) to suspend elections for seven years and pave the way for the formation of a coalition government.
But speaking to reporters on Sunday on the sidelines of the Workers Day celebrations, which were held in Dzivarasekwa in Harare, Chamisa said:
<blockquote>
I am not engaged with Mnangagwa on any dialogue regarding a government structure. The only dialogue and pact I have called for is the pre-election pact that must be done.
I also disagreed with the proposal by the churches to have a sabbatical on elections and said we only need a sabbatical on election violence.
</blockquote>
CCC deputy spokesperson Gift Siziba on Monday, 2 May told NewsDay that Chamisa was open to dialogue with Mnangagwa, but on electoral reforms, and not to form a GNU. Said Siziba:
<blockquote>
We need a national dialogue with political parties on the pre-election pact and electoral reforms so that we put an end to the cycle of contested elections.
We don’t want violence in the next elections, and we don’t need the abuse of State institutions at all.
We don’t want a political dialogue to share power, we want dialogue with all political parties, and ZANU PF being our major opponent, on electoral reforms.
Chamisa has never refused to dialogue with all political parties on electoral reforms.
</blockquote>
Political analyst Maxwell Saungweme also told NewsDay that Chamisa and Mnangagwa need to talk to each other for the sake of the nation’s progress. He said:
<blockquote>
The socio-economic and political challenges facing the country cannot be unlocked by political science.
After every war, people engage in dialogue. Even after independence, we engaged in dialogue. Zimbabwe needs dialogue.
If President Mnangagwa and Chamisa care about Zimbabwe, they should be able to talk to each other.
I don’t find any wisdom in one saying they don’t want to talk to the other, even for the electoral reforms, there is a need for dialogue. After all, we are all Zimbabweans.
</blockquote>
Another political analyst Sydicks Muradzikwa said without dialogue between Chamisa and Mnangagwa, the country will not move forward. Said Muradzikwa:
<blockquote>
Chamisa is not refusing to engage in dialogue, but he is refusing the terms of reference for the dialogue.
He is simply saying that President Mnangagwa is part of the problem and cannot be part of the solution, and cannot be the convenor of the dialogue.
That is the major reason he is refusing to talk to Mnangagwa. If there is no dialogue, we are going to continue to see the same problems.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/05/we-are-not-talking-to-zanu-pf-chamisa/">NewsDay</a></h4>

Chamisa Dismisses ZANU PF-CCC Talks Reports

The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has dismissed as false a report by <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/exclusive-mnangagwa-and-chamisa-in-secretive-gnu-talks-eye-7-year-coalition-deal/">an online news publication</a> that the party’s leader Nelson Chamisa is involved in secret coalition talks with President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said Chamisa is not in secret talks with Mnangagwa for a government on national unity (GNU).
Mahere said CCC is ready to dialogue with ZANU PF on political and electoral reforms to prevent another disputed election. <a href="https://twitter.com/advocatemahere/status/1514876409159864323?s=20&amp;t=OWcWUrjgaCX5P5CgirteLA">She posted on Twitter:</a>
<blockquote>
These are outright lies… President [Nelson chamisa] is not in secret talks with [President Mnangagwa] about a GNU or anything else.
We’ve publicly said we’re ready to dialogue with Zanu PF about REFORMS to avoid another disputed election. Not this.
The CCC has no interest in a GNU. We’re focused on our mass mobilization program to ensure we win a landslide victory in 2023.
We plan to win the rural vote, the youth vote &amp; the vote of every citizen desiring change so we take power and then deliver transformation for Zimbabweans.
</blockquote>
The report claimed Mnangagwa and Chamisa are engaged in secret talks with the aim of forming a seven-year GNU.
It also quoted a source as saying ZANU PF is being represented in the talks by its secretary for finance, Patrick Chinamasa while CCC is being represented by Gorden Moyo. A source was quoted as saying:
<blockquote>
Preliminary talks are indeed underway and both parties appear to be eager to have an arrangement that can work.
The groundwork was actually laid down last year. There was a time when Chamisa met with some senior government officials and confided with them that he was interested in an arrangement that can postpone elections for seven years and intelligence people took that in the form of a recording to ED (Mnangagwa), who was excited about it and went on to give Chinamasa the task to lead the talks.
So, I can tell you with certainty that there have been meetings between representatives of the two leaders, but they have been held in deep secrecy.
</blockquote>
The report quoted another source as saying the results of the 26 March by-elections shocked both sides because they ate into each other’s territories. Said the source:
<blockquote>
The March 26 by-elections were mainly used to showcase capabilities and to test the waters. The result was shocking to both sides because they ate into each other’s territories.
There were some people in ZANU PF who actually did not want the by-elections to happen but ED insisted he wanted them because they would be useful to gauge the atmosphere and decide whether or not to proceed with elections next year.
There is general consensus in the party that these polls were a rude awakening because they did not anticipate Chamisa would be so popular. Most of the top people in the party now want the GNU.
As for Chamisa, the idea was to showcase himself as a formidable optician and the good showing in the by-elections gave him the necessary pedestal for talks.
He dearly wanted those elections to show ED that he has people and can actually win the elections next year.
</blockquote>
The report, however, admitted that Chamisa did not confirm the alleged talks when contacted for a comment. Chamisa said:
<blockquote>
We know for sure Zanu PF does not want elections. They are terrified by-elections.
</blockquote>

CCC Refutes Chamisa, Mnangagwa Secret GNU Talks Report

MDC-T chairman and Midlands senator, Morgen Komichi has called for an urgent all-stakeholder national dialogue that will address the country’s socio-economic challenges.
This comes after MDC-T president Douglas Mwonzora privately met President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House twice in the past twelve months.
Speaking to his supporters in Highfield last month, Mwonzora said he will meet Mnangagwa for talks soon after the 26 March by-elections.
Komichi said national dialogue has historically been key to solving the country’s problems, as evidenced by the Unity Accord of 22 December 1987 and the Global Political Agreement of 15 September 2008. Komichi said:
<blockquote>
We are still waiting for the dates for the dialogue, but we want an all-inclusive dialogue that pursues an inclusive agenda.
This dialogue, in our view, should include stakeholders such as traditional leaders, labour, churches, civic society and all other key stakeholders, who will reach a consensus on the resolution of the economic crisis facing the country.
If the government is genuinely concerned about the people’s lives, it should call for dialogue among all Zimbabweans so that we can solve our problems, which are mainly economical.
This dialogue, which we are proposing should not be elitist, but should be stakeholders driven.
All our problems, starting from Lancaster talks up to 2009 during the MDC’s conflict with ZANU PF, have been resolved by dialogue.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, the MDC-T’s political capital has been eroded significantly by its failure to win a single parliamentary seat or ward in the 26 March by-elections.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/komichi-calls-for-all-stakeholders-dialogue/">New Zimbabwe</a></h4>

Komichi Calls For All-inclusive National Dialogue

Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa has dismissed media reports claiming that he recently met MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora and pledged to form a coalition ahead of the 2023 elections.
A local daily publication on Friday <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/04/chamisa-mwonzora-bury-hatchet/">reported</a> that Chamisa and Mwonzora met at a hotel in Harare this week and reached an agreement whose details were not revealed.
However, responding to one of his Twitter followers <a href="https://twitter.com/MashipeJeff/status/1509765494760517648">who had said</a> CCC should not engage in dialogue with Mwonzora at any stage, Chamisa said:
<blockquote>
It’s April fools… Ignore the lies. It’s all fake, falsehoods and propaganda. We’re clear!
</blockquote>
Chamisa and Mwonzora went their separate ways in 2020 after the Supreme Court ruled that Chamisa had illegally taken over the MDC-T presidency in 2018.
Mwonzora was later voted MDC-T president and claimed the MDC Alliance name and symbols, prompting Chamisa to launch CCC in early 2022.
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

'It's All Fake,' Chamisa Dismisses Mwonzora Meeting Report

Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa on Monday said he is willing to engage ZANU PF leader President Emmerson Mnangagwa in dialogue to come up with a roadmap for the 2023 general elections.
Addressing a press conference in Harare, Chamisa said there has to be dialogue and an agreement before the 2023 elections to prevent disputes and violence. Said Chamisa:
<blockquote>
It takes two to tango. We are saying dialogue is important around electoral conditions and the reforms that we would want to see so that we do not have another disputed election.
So even in victory, there has to be dialogue, a pre-election, post-election pact, an agreement on the nature and character of the election that we are going to have so that we agree on what happens to those who are going to win and those who are also going to help the winners.
We still are not happy with this by-election and its magnanimity in victory. We have had a landslide, but that does not move away from the fact that elections in this country need fundamental reforms around the voters’ roll, making sure that results are managed in a better way, and that polling stations are not subjected to violence and intimidation that we have seen.
</blockquote>
Chamisa’s CCC won 19 out of the 28 National Assembly seats and the majority of council seats in the recently-held by-elections.
However, almost all of the parliamentary seats are in urban areas, the opposition’s strongholds and ZANU PF reclaimed two seats that were won by the opposition in 2018.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/03/chamisa-warms-up-to-ed-dialogue/">NewsDay</a></h4>

Chamisa Wants A Deal With Mnangagwa Before 2023 Elections

MDC-Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma has castigated Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) principals after they proposed a number of electoral reform recommendations which they want to take to Parliament for consideration.
POLAD principals met in Harare on Friday and finalised a draft document on proposed electoral reforms compiled by their Governance and Legislative Agenda Thematic Committee.
Among other things, POLAD proposed that Zimbabwe must move to the proportional representation electoral system.
Chuma said POLAD has no right to make the proposals since all its principals were rejected by the electorate in the last general elections held in 2018. Pindula News publishes <a href="https://twitter.com/chumasteve/status/1472168727810560003">Chuma’s Twitter thread</a> below:
<blockquote>
POLAD, a grouping of Mnangagwa’s political lapdogs have this week shocked all and sundry by laying out some funny electoral reforms proposals.
Surprisingly among their facade list of reforms, the gang is silent about the abuse of taxpayers money by election rejects.
POLAD members have criminally benefited from taxpayers’ money yet they do not possess an ounce of a social contract with the masses. Rejects and losers must never determine the course and direction our country must take. 
They lack moral probity and public endorsement hence they should not force their rotten political ideas to the very people who rejected the same ideas on the ballot.
By embracing Emmerson Mnangagwa, POLAD members have embraced criminality, human butchery, corruption, human rights abuses and all the ills of the so-called Second Recond Republic. It’s folly to accept a witch and condemn witchcraft.
If POLAD members are genuine about reforms, then their first port of call must be to genuinely call for the release of all political prisoners like Makomborero Haruzivishe.
If POLAD members are sincere on reforms then they must return Mnangagwa’s vehicles which they were corruptly given.
POLAD members are accomplices to this unjust system that has left our people economically, socially &amp; politically disenfranchised.
We can’t allow accomplices of thievery &amp; corruption to suggest what’s good for our society for they religiously serve the interests of their masters.
If POLAD members are sincere about reforms then their first port of call must be to call for the resignation of chief electoral thief Mnangagwa who ordered the butchering of defenceless civilians by the military in 2018. No honey from flies!
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

POLAD Principals Are Accomplices In Second Republic's Evils, Says Sarkozy

The Governance and Legislative Agenda Thematic Committee of the Political Actors Dialogue (POALD), has proposed a number of electoral reform recommendations which will be presented to Parliament for consideration.
POLAD principals met in Harare this Friday and finalised a draft document on proposed electoral reforms compiled by their Governance and Legislative Agenda Thematic Committee. It proposed the following:
1. Zimbabwe must move to the proportional representation electoral system
2. All election-related laws to be in the Electoral Act.
3. State funding of political parties must be widened to promote a multi-party democracy
4. Regulation of political campaign meetings must be kept to a bare minimum during the period from the proclamation of elections up to polling day.
5. The Electoral Act must have a specific provision giving each political party fielding candidates in an election a free statutory 2 hour period on each public media platform to propagate its campaign message and a minimum of 5 articles.
6. The formula for a 30% female quota in local authorities recently introduced by the constitution must be provided for in the Electoral Act in time for 2023.
7. ZEC regulations must be promulgated at least 6 months before the elections.
8. Proclamation of Election date must be at least 90 days before polling day.
9. Voters roll to be closed 14 days after the date of proclamation.
10. The voters’ roll must be published and made available at least 7 days before the nomination court.
11. Nomination of candidates must take place over a period of 5 days with the nomination court only sitting on the 5th day to announce the final list of successful candidates.
12. The number of nominators for Presidential candidates be increased from 100 to 200 with the nominators.
13. ZEC must be obliged by a specific provision of the Electoral Act to inform voters via both print and electronic public media of the names of candidates.
14. Ballot papers must have a single vertical column of names of candidates in alphabetic order of surnames, whatever the length.
15. There must be braille voting for blind voters.
16. Assisted voting on account of illiteracy to be restricted to voters above 70 years.
17. Election results must be announced with a maximum period of 72 hours.
18. Media is permitted to publish any election result already posted outside a polling station or ward centre or constituency centre.
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

POLAD Wants Proportional Representation Electoral System

MDC-T president Douglas Mwonzora is pushing for the formation of a Government of National Unity with ZANU PF.
Addressing MDC-T supporters in Marondera at the weekend, Mwonzora said he is ready to follow the late former MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai’s footsteps and become Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister.
The MDC-T leadership was in Marondera to consult party structures on whether they should go ahead and engage President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Said Mwonzora:
<blockquote>
This is one of the first meetings we are doing, to spread our message of dialogue; our message is to make people ready for elections.
But basically, it was consultations and advising people of the decision made by the national council for us to intensify the issue of dialogue.
The results of dialogues are known. We may have a GNU or whatever arrangement, and that is what I was talking about.
We want to follow in the footsteps of Morgan Tsvangirai. He did dialogue and it was in the best interests of the people of Zimbabwe. And we want to follow suit.
It is up to the people of Zimbabwe, I am ready to serve what the people of Zimbabwe will ask me to do.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/12/i-want-to-be-pm-mwonzora/">NewsDay</a></h4>

I Want To Become Prime Minister - Mwonzora

The Youth Alliance for Democracy (YAD) has requested Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube to disclose the source of funds for the purchase of 19 vehicles that were handed over to Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) principals by President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently.
In a letter addressed to Ncube and dated 18 August 2021, YAD director Tichaona Masiyambiri said they have asked for the information in order to promote public accountability and protection of access to information as a human right. The letter reads:
<blockquote>
RE: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON FUNDING FOR POLITICAL ACTORS DIALOGUE (POLAD VEHICLES
Reference is made to the above in response to vehicles allocated to political parties under the banner of POLAD,
We kindly request information on where funding for vehicles allocated to POLAD principles was drawn from.
By making this request we are guided by Section 621) &amp; (2) of the 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe which states that every Zimbabwean citizen or permanent resident, including juristic persons, has the right of access to any information held by the Seate or by any institution or agency of government at every level, in so far as the information is required in the interests of public accountability and for the exercise or protection of a right.
The information required is meant to promote public accountability and protection of access to information as a human right.
Section 68 accords every person the right to administrative conduct that is lawful, prompt efficient reasonable proportionate, impartial and both substantively and procedurally fair.
Section 194 provide for basic values and principles governing public administration.
Section 194(1)(a), (b), (c), (d), (f) and (h) provides that public administration in all tiers of government, including institutions and agencies of the State and government-controlled entities and other public enterprises must be governed by the democratic values and principles enshrined in the Constitution, including the following principles: (1) promoting and maintaining a high standard of professional ethics; (2) efficient and economical use of resources; (3) development-oriented public administration (4) provision of services impartially, fairly, equitably and without Nias (5) accountability to Parliament d the people (6) fostering transparency through timely provision of accessible and accurate information to the public.
Chapter 17 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe lays out the financial management system, authorisation of expenditure and safeguarding of public funds and property.
By making this request we are guided by Section 194(1)(e) which states that people’s needs must be responded to within a reasonable time.
We look forward to hearing from you and for further information do not hesitate to contact the undersigned.
Yours Faithfully
T. Masiyambiri
Director
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

Mthuli Must Reveal Source Of Funds For POLAD Cars - YAD

The Douglas Mwonzora-led MDC-T is warming up to join the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD), a few days after President Emmerson Mnangagwa doled out 19 brand new all-terrain vehicles to POLAD principals.
Mwonzora’s spokesperson Lloyd Damba said they are waiting for the formal invitation from the POLAD secretariat. Said Damba:
<blockquote>
We are only waiting for the formal invitation. If the formal invitation comes, we will consult our party organs and then the national council will make a final and binding decision.
</blockquote>
On Sunday Damba said Mwonzora will not join POLAD because the constitutive document does not allow the MDC-T leader to be part of the forum as he did not participate in the 2018 presidential elections.
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<li class="entry-title">
<h2><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/07/31/mwonzora-refuses-to-join-polad-despite-mnangagwa-invitation/">Mwonzora Refuses To Join POLAD Despite Mnangagwa Invitation</a></h2>
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Damba made the remarks after Mnangagwa on Friday said Mwonzora is free to join POLAD although POLAD is for principals who participated in the 2018 Presidential elections.
Mnangagwa said since Mwonzora is now the official leader of the opposition in Parliament, he could join the dialogue platform.
POLAD was launched by Mnangagwa in May 2019 following calls for the need for dialogue with the opposition to find solutions for the country’s problems.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/mdc-t-ready-to-join-poladwaiting-for-formal-invitation/">The Herald</a></h4>

Mwonzora Waiting For A Formal Invitation To Join POLAD

Former Chivi South MP, Killer Zivhu (ZANU PF), says President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Political Actors Dialogue Actors (POLAD) needs MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa to be part of it to become relevant.
Zivhu made the remarks after former ZANU PF youth league national commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu told a local daily publication that Chamisa will be isolated if he insists on refusing to join POLAD.
However, posting on Twitter, Zivhu said Tsenengamu does not understand politics as Chamisa’s absence from POLAD will not isolate him from his supporters. <a href="https://twitter.com/killerzivhu1/status/1422854646046076928">Said Zivhu:</a>
<blockquote>
Some politicians don’t understand politics, Chamisa is not isolated from his followers. POLAD needs Chamisa to gain relevance, not the other way round.
Zvinodiwa chete (What is needed) is not POLAD but an improvement on infrastructure, the value of our dollar, reform, respect to citizens and dialogue.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, MDC Alliance national vice-chairperson, Job Sikhala has demanded that the government disclose the source of the funds that were used to buy 19 Isuzu D-Max cars which Mnangagwa doled out to POLAD principals on Friday. <a href="https://twitter.com/JobSikhala1/status/1422616108134277123">Said Sikhala:</a>
<blockquote>
As a nation, we want tw know where the money that bought the POLAD vehicles was drawn from. There was no such appropriation in the last national budget.
So can Mnangagwa tell us where he got the money he used two buy those vehicles from? We want full answers otherwise we will raise dust.
</blockquote>
MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi on Tuesday said the opposition party has no intentions of joining POLAD.
Mahere described POLAD as an outfit for illegitimate parties who are there to promote autocracy in the country.
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

Killer: POLAD Needs Chamisa To Gain Relevance

The MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa says it has no intentions of joining the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD).
MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi on Tuesday said nothing will entice the party to join the grouping which she described as an outfit for illegitimate parties who are there to promote autocracy in the country.
Posting on her Twitter account, Mahere said the MDC Alliance will continue to call for better living conditions in the country and also push for political reforms. Said Mahere:
<blockquote>
The MDC Alliance will never join POLAD. It’s not the function of a legitimate opposition party to take trinkets in exchange for cheerleading autocracy.
We continue to hold the regime accountable, demand better lives for the people and push for reforms in all areas of governance.
</blockquote>
This comes after President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the door was open for all 2018 presidential election candidates to join the dialogue platform after his administration doled out 19 all-terrain vehicles to POLAD principals.
On Friday, Mnangagwa gave 19 Isuzu D-Max cars to leaders of political parties which participated in the 2018 presidential election.
While the majority of the contestants have joined POLAD, Chamisa, who polled over 40 per cent of the vote, has insisted on bilateral talks with Mnangagwa.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/we-will-never-join-polad-mdc/">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

We Will Never Join POLAD - MDC Alliance

MDC-T president Douglas Mwonzora says he will not join the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD), a dialogue platform that was launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in May 2019  following calls for the need for dialogue with the opposition to find solutions for the country’s problems.
This comes after Mnangagwa on Friday said Mwonzora is free to join POLAD although POLAD is for principals who participated in the 2018 Presidential elections.
Mnangagwa said since Mwonzora is now the official leader of the opposition in Parliament, he could join the dialogue platform.
However, speaking in an interview with Studio 7’s Thomas Chiripasi on Saturday, Mwonzora’s spokesperson Llyod Damba said the POLAD constitutive document does not allow the MDC-T leader to be part of the forum as he did not participate in the 2018 presidential elections. Said Damba:
<blockquote>
We are not going to POLAD because the POLAD constitutive document defines a political actor as a contestant in the 2018 presidential elections.
So the document disqualifies Mwonzora from participating in POLAD as he is not a political actor as defined by the constitutive document.
The second issue is that even if Mnangagwa resigns today and [Vice President Constantino] Chiwenga or another ZANU PF official takes over, they are also disqualified from participating in POLAD meetings because they did not contest in the 2018 presidential elections.
</blockquote>
Damba said former MDC-T acting president Thokozani Khupe cannot be part of POLAD anymore even though she contested in the 2018 presidential elections saying the party’s Standing Committee has the final say on whether she returns to POLAD.
Meanwhile, ZANU PF director for Information and Publicity Tafadzwa Mugwadi told Studio 7 that Mwonzora is free not to join if he so wishes. Said Mugwadi:
<blockquote>
Joining POLAD is not compulsory.
</blockquote>
Yesterday Mnangagwa handed over 19 Isuzu D-Max vehicles to POLAD principals at State House that he had promised them. The vehicles are branded with POLAD stickers. Said Mnangagwa:
<blockquote>
The vehicles have been made identifiable and make sure it carries the dignity of POLAD. The cars you, are not going to use as you see it fit, except that it must be for political work or developmental work.
… In terms of regulations in the public sector, after three years we will then review and make sure that they can belong to you.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

Mwonzora Refuses To Join POLAD Despite Mnangagwa Invitation

National Constitutional Assembly leader Lovemore Madhuku says he has no qualms receiving a vehicle from President Emmerson Mnangagwa as he is a Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) principal.
Madhuku was among the 19 POLAD officials who were given cars by Mnangagwa at State House yesterday.
Responding to exiled former cabinet minister Jonathan Moyo who had criticised him for accepting the “wages of treachery”, Madhuku said the car was not a personal gift from Mnangagwa but was from the government. <a href="https://twitter.com/ProfMadhuku/status/1421449949422702592?s=20">Said Madhuku:</a>
<blockquote>
I support the Polad approach. I will use the vehicle to spread the Polad philosophy and build the NCA. The vehicle is not a personal gift from the President: it is from the Government. For the NCA it is the first form of support we have received from the State. We welcome it.
</blockquote>
In response to journalist and filmmaker Hopewell Chin’ono who had asked how he “would happily receive a car from Mnangagwa for doing nothing else than helping Mnangagwa continue to repress us” when “Chitungwiza Hospital doesn’t have an ambulance”, <a href="https://twitter.com/ProfMadhuku/status/1421446711730479110?s=20">Madhuku said:</a>
<blockquote>
The vehicle is from the Government of Zimbabwe. I am a political leader in Zimbabwe. I lead a party called NCA. The NCA believes in the Polad philosophy. I believe in the Polad philosophy. The vehicle will help me to spread the Polad approach and build the NCA. Wait and see.
</blockquote>
POLAD is a dialogue platform created by Mnangagwa following calls for the need for dialogue with the opposition to find solutions for the country’s problems.
However, not all participants in the 2018 presidential elections joined POLAD, among them Nelson Chamisa, who polled over 43% of the vote, former Vice President Joice Mujuru, and former Industry and Commerce minister Nkosana Moyo, among others.
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

Madhuku Explains Why He Accepted POLAD Car From Mnangagwa

President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday said MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora is free to join the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/POLAD_(Political_Actors_Dialogue)">Political Actors Dialogue</a> (POLAD) if he wants.
Mnangagwa was speaking at State House in Harare while handing over 19 Isuzu D-Max vehicles that he promised to POLAD principals. He said:
<blockquote>
I met MDC-T leader Mr Douglas Mwonzora, who is the leader of the MDC-T. I was informed by the Speaker of Parliament that he is now the official leader of the opposition in Parliament.
In terms of the protocols, the leader of the opposition has to meet the President. In the process, I said to him he is free to join POLAD although POLAD is for principals who participated in the 2018 Presidential elections.
I thought you will allow him as a leader of a political party.
</blockquote>
Mnangagwa said he had honoured his pledge of providing vehicles to all POLAD members so that they seamlessly implement national programmes. He said:
<blockquote>
The vehicles have been made identifiable to make sure they carry the dignity of POLAD. The cars, you are not going to use them as you see it fit, except that it must be for political work or developmental work.
Down the line, of course, the other purpose belongs to POLAD, now that they are given to each political party.
In terms of regulations in the public sector, after three years we will then review and make sure that they can belong to you.
</blockquote>
POLAD is a dialogue platform created by Mnangagwa following calls for the need for dialogue with the opposition to find solutions for the country’s problems.
However, not all participants in the 2018 presidential elections joined POLAD, among them Nelson Chamisa, who polled over 43% of the vote, former Vice President Joice Mujuru, and former Industry and Commerce minister Nkosana Moyo, among others.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/mwonzora-free-to-join-polad/">Chronicle</a></h4>

Mnangagwa Invites Mwonzora To Join POLAD

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is yet to respond to MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora’s proposals for dialogue, a month after he delivered his petition at State House.
Mwonzora met Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga at State House on 11 June where he submitted a four-page document to the Head of State and one of the alleged proposals was to postpone by-elections.
Soon after the meeting, Mwonzora told The Standard that he was given assurance that his request would be prioritised.
He claimed Mnangagwa had promised to respond within two weeks, but his spokesperson Lloyd Damba on Saturday said there had been no response. Said Damba:
<blockquote>No, not yet, we are still waiting for the responses. We are very patient on that.</blockquote>
Meanwhile, ZANU PF is already preparing for by-elections in what could be an indication that Mwonzora’s proposals were not being taken seriously.
According to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), about 26 seats were left vacant after the MDC-T recalled MDC Alliance legislators, with some seats becoming vacant following the deaths of representatives.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2021/07/11/mnangagwa-keeps-mwonzora-waiting/">The Standard</a></h4>

Mnangagwa Keeps Mwonzora Waiting

MDC-T president Douglas Mwonzora says his efforts to reach out to MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa have been rejected by the latter.
Speaking during an interview with Daily News on Sunday Senior Staff Writer Blessings Mashaya, Mwonzora accused the vanquished ZANU PF G40 faction of influencing the MDC Alliance leadership to engage in “hate politics”. Said Mwonzora:
<blockquote>I have tried to talk peace with my brother Chamisa with a view to unite the Zimbabwean people and solve the national problems, but these efforts have been rebuffed by his team and himself.
They have resorted to denigrate and humiliate me on social media.
Unfortunately, they are under the influence of the G40s who specialise in hate politics.</blockquote>
Mwonzora also denied allegations that he stole over $6 million from the MDC-T before the party’s chaotic 27 December extraordinary congress.
He accused his colleagues within the MDC-T of using Patson Murimoga to report the alleged theft of funds to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) in a bid to achieve their political objectives. Mwonzora said:
<blockquote>This is the work of internal opponents who were irked by my victory at the extraordinary congress on December 27th last year. They have teamed up with some members of the opposition and the G40.
They are sponsoring and exploiting this desperate youth to try to achieve their political objectives. They hope that I would be arrested so that I will be out of the political scene.
Our unique political style and strategy have confounded them.
The allegations are totally preposterous, false and malicious. They wanted to secure my arrest before congress so that I would not assume leadership of the MDC-T.
They reported the matter to the police and even tried to buy my arrest. But law officers work on evidence and this is what these people don’t have.
Some of them tried to accuse me of theft last year only for acting president Thokozani Khupe to write a letter exonerating me.
It is totally impossible for one person to take money as much as $6 million from a party with as elaborate accounting and signing procedures as the MDC-T. But their sordid efforts will simply be defeated by the truth.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://dailynews.co.zw/we-were-against-removal-of-the-running-mate-clause-but-chamisa-rebuffs-my-peace-efforts/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Daily News</a></h4>

Chamisa Has Refused To Talk To Me - Mwonzora

MDC-T president Douglas Mwonzora has reportedly formally approached President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other stakeholders to kickstart the much talked about national dialogue.
The Daily News reported sources yesterday saying President Mnangagwa and the ruling Zanu PF wanted Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to be their point man for the mooted talks.
Mwonzora’s spokesperson, Lloyd Damba, on Monday confirmed to the Daily News that the MDC-T had now indeed approached the government for the much-needed dialogue. Damba said:
<blockquote>Besides the government, we are engaging other players behind the scenes. We are engaging various stakeholders and when the time comes for you to know the intricate details you will be the first to know.</blockquote>
Meanwhile, Presidential spokesperson George Charamba said yesterday that he was not in on the reported developments.
Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo also expressed ignorance over the report that Mwonzora’s emissaries were received by President Mnangagwa. He said:
<blockquote>I am not aware of that. All I know is that they met in Victoria Falls during the vaccination launch.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://dailynews.co.zw/vp-tipped-to-be-talks-point-man-as-mwonzora-formally-approaches-ed-on-dialogue/?_ga=2.22570808.2002602008.1616385754-238862795.1564465122" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Daily News</a></h4>

Mwonzora Formally Approaches ED On Dialogue - Report

Deputy Chief Secretary-Presidential Communications in the Office of the President, George Charamba has said President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office never got any letters from MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa regarding the mooted national dialogue.
Charamba also said Mnangagwa was not even aware of emissaries that the MDC Alliance president sent to the president’s office.
This comes after Chamisa Thursday said he had written several letters and also sent a number of emissaries to Mnangagwa on the need for national dialogue – but to no avail thus far.
Speaking on Saturday to the Daily News on Sunday, Charamba said Chamisa’ claims were completely untrue. He said:
<blockquote>We are not in receipt of any letter from Chamisa at all. We are also not aware of any emissaries that he has sent to us. That’s completely untrue.</blockquote>
Charamba said Mnangagwa remained ready to engage in dialogue with the opposition and other key stakeholders.
He however warned Chamisa that he will not receive special treatment and should join the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD).
Charamba further asserted that Chamisa and the MDC Alliance’s weakness and unreasonableness were exposed by their “politicking” on the 2018 elections. He said:
<blockquote>We have been ready from the first day after the results of the elections were announced in 2018.
We proceeded not just to offer him (Chamisa) recognition, we also made available a platform — the political actors dialogue (Polad) — for engaging him alongside all other politicians.
But we don’t engage Chamisa to rescue his world that is collapsing, we engage Chamisa for the national good.
We have been forced into election mode from the day after the 2018 election, and this is much regrettable … Creating Polad was to de-escalate electoral politics, but Chamisa decided not to join.
They thought that there is a magic wand in continued politicking electorally over a closed matter, without realising it could only underline their weaknesses and unreasonableness.
The dialogue is proceeding and engagement is happening every day.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://dailynews.co.zw/eds-office-did-not-get-chamisas-talks-letters/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Daily News</a></h4>

'Chamisa's Letters, Envoys Never Reached Mnangagwa's Office'

Professor Stephen Chan has urged President Mnangagwa to sit down and dialogue with opposition leaders as he said the sight of opposing leaders sitting around the same table can send signals to the US government that might assist the government’s efforts to mend relations with Washington, The Daily News reports. Chan was responding to the <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/03/04/united-states-renews-sanctions-on-zimbabwe/">US government extending sanctions</a> to Zimbabwe when he said:
<blockquote>…Biden simply could not be seen in the US not at least maintaining sanctions. The signal to Zimbabwe is a simple if not a bluntly-expressed one. The West now looks towards national dialogue in Zimbabwe as the key factor in ameliorating or doing away with sanctions. This is a decision only Mnangagwa can take.
There is no end of readiness to broker and assist with talks. Just the sight of the opposing leaders sitting around the same table would send the first of what must become several signals back to Washington.</blockquote>
Professor Chan’s sentiments were echoed by University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer, Clever Mumbengegwi who said the government has put the minimum effort in trying to reform in order to get sanctions lifted:
<blockquote>It was always obvious that the US would not lift sanctions it imposed on the country when one looks at what their expectations on the Zimbabwe government are. There have been no new developments that suggest that Zimbabwe is now being governed according to the dictates of the US foreign policy.
It, therefore, means that Mnangagwa’s efforts to reengage with the West are up in smoke after the EU and the UK did the same recently.</blockquote>
President Mnangagwa has said there will not be any political dialogue outside POLAD while Nelson Chamisa has said he will not join POLAD. Another opposition leader Douglas Mwonzora has also refused to join President Mnangagwa’s POLAD.
More: <a href="https://dailynews.co.zw/get-on-with-talks-to-end-sanctions/">Daily News </a>

The Sight Of Opposing Leaders Sitting On The Same Table Would Send Signals To Washington - Professor Chan On The Dialogue

The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance (MDC-A) will only take party in dialogue that is genuine and whose agenda is the implementation of far-reaching political and electoral reforms, a senior party official has said.
Responding to a headline by a daily publication that has been pushing the dialogue agenda for some time now, MDC-A party spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said that the implementation of deep reforms is the only way to return the country to legitimacy. She wrote on Twitter:
<blockquote>The MDC Alliance will not participate in sham “dialogue” engineered by a Zanu PF proxy who usurped the will of the people.
No amount of crude propaganda will change our position as a matter of principle. Yes to reforms. No to elite pacts. Political power lies in the people.
Any political dialogue must be sincere and have as its main agenda the implementation of deep reforms.
This is the only way to return the country to legitimacy and democracy.
How can those with no mandate and a sinister agenda lead the way? How’s this different from POLAD?
Mwonzora succeeded Khupe who was a keen participant of POLAD under their MDCT outfit. When did the MDC T leave POLAD?
What “new” dialogue push is being referred to? The citizens deserve sincere root &amp; branch reform. We can’t have a repeat of the “Muzorewa-style” sham talks.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
Any political dialogue must be sincere &amp; have as its main agenda the implementation of deep reforms. This is the only way to return the country to legitimacy &amp; democracy. How can those with no mandate &amp; a sinister agenda lead the way? How’s this different from POLAD? <a href="https://t.co/OJeumETaFP">pic.twitter.com/OJeumETaFP</a>
— Fadzayi Mahere (@advocatemahere) <a href="https://twitter.com/advocatemahere/status/1364168868223209474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
The MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora has been pushing for dialogue outside the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) framework but the ruling ZANU PF party has ruled that out.
On its party, the MDC-A has insisted on one-on-one dialogue with ZANU PF outside POLAD but the latter has always reiterated its stance that dialogue will only take place within the POLAD framework.
<a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/02/15/zanu-pf-directs-chamisa-mwonzora-to-polad-rule-out-gnu/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Earlier this month Zanu PF secretary for administration, Obert Mpofu challenged Chamisa and Mwonzora to join POLAD if they were serious about their calls for dialogue with the ruling party.</a>
POLAD, a forum of fringe political parties that lost the 2018 elections, was created by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2019. Mpofu said:
<blockquote>Those politicians in the opposition who think they are entitled to preferential treatment and are immune from the processes which are endorsed by many other political players in Zimbabwe run the risk of isolation.
The POLAD framework simply enunciates a common national vision that is detached from partisan egos and inter-party smear campaigns.
If they are sincere on dialogue, they must join others in POLAD.</blockquote>

Dialogue Should Be About Reforms - Mahere

Zanu PF secretary for administration, Obert Mpofu has challenged MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa and MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora to join the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) if they are serious about their calls for dialogue with the ruling party.
POLAD, a forum of fringe political parties that lost the 2018 elections, was created by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2019.
However, Chamisa has previously scoffed at calls for him to join the platform while Mwonzora, unlike his predecessor Thokozani Khupe who was a member, has hitherto refused to join POLAD.
Mpofu warned Chamisa and Mwonzora that they will be isolated if they maintain their stance. He told the Daily News on Sunday:
<blockquote>Those politicians in the opposition who think they are entitled to preferential treatment and are immune from the processes which are endorsed by many other political players in Zimbabwe run the risk of isolation.
The POLAD framework simply enunciates a common national vision which is detached from partisan egos and inter-party smear campaigns.
If they are sincere on dialogue, they must join others in POLAD.</blockquote>
Mpofu also said the ruling party sees no reason for the formation of another inclusive government with the opposition or Government of National Unity (GNU). He added:
<blockquote>Zanu PF is ready for the 2023 elections. We are counting on our electoral mandate renewal to continue our work towards Vision 2030.
We are not swayed by opinions of certain churches and CSOs. They are entitled to their wishes.
Otherwise, we will not compromise the constitution by foregoing the election to satisfy a few reactionary elements in our political space.</blockquote>
<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Obert_Mpofu" rel="noopener" target="_blank">For more on Obert Mpofu, please click here.</a>
<h4>More: <a href="https://dailynews.co.zw/this-is-your-last-chance-zanu-pf-tears-into-mdc/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Daily News</a></h4>

ZANU PF Directs Chamisa, Mwonzora To POLAD, Rule Out GNU

The MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora has reportedly appointed a formal committee to work on a strategy to engage the ruling ZANU PF party in dialogue.
The Daily News reported a source saying a six-member committee led by the party’s secretary-general and former deputy Labour minister in the inclusive government, Paurina Mpariwa, was established during a standing committee meeting held virtually on Wednesday.
Former Economic Planning minister and MDC treasurer-general, Tapiwa Mashakada, his deputy Chief Ndlovu, deputy national chairperson Giles Mutsekwa and Masvingo senator Tichinani Mavetera are reportedly among the members of the committee.
Former MDC-T interim leader, Thokozani Khupe is slated to be the committee’s sixth member, the Daily News heard. A senior party official is quoted as saying:
<blockquote>Their [committee] mandate is to identify concessions that the party intends to extract from the dialogue, not for itself only, but for the generality of Zimbabweans, as well as those it is prepared to sacrifice in order to get what it wants.
The committee will also examine specific issues upon which the dialogue will be premised as well as the specific position of the party on certain things.
After it is done, the committee will report to the president and ultimately to the national council before formally approaching Zanu PF and other stakeholders.</blockquote>
Following his victory at the chaotic MDC-T extraordinary congress held in December last year to choose a substantive president, Mwonzora said he will embark on “rational disputation” with ZANU PF.
Meanwhile, the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa recently said it was ready to negotiate with ZANU PF to find a way to end the country’s economic and political challenges.
<h4>More: <a href="https://dailynews.co.zw/mwonzora-drive-moves-a-gear-up-as-he-appoints-team-to-work-on-national-dialogue-strategy/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Daily News</a></h4>

Mwonzora Appoints 'National Dialogue' Committee

The MDC factions have inveigled the party’s “Elders” to help iron out their differences as they seek to enforce a recent Supreme Court ruling which ordered them to hold an extraordinary congress within three months.
The secretary-general of the MDC Alliance’s Council of Elders, Pearson Mungofa told Business Times that their counterparts in MDC-T led by James Makore and Cephas Makuyana have approached them to end the impasse. He said:
<blockquote>We have been approached by the Elders from the Khupe faction proposing that we should talk to our principal Nelson Chamisa and that we need to find a mediator to chair the dialogue between him and Khupe.
We as the elders of party are ready to take up the matter to our principal Chamisa but we need a guarantee from the Khupe faction that they are not being sent by Zanu PF to further weaken our party.</blockquote>
Mungofa revealed that Eric Matinenga, a lawyer and former cabinet minister who once worked with the late MDC founding president Morgan Tsvangirai, Thokozani Khupe and Chamisa during the inclusive government in the period 2009 to 2013, is being considered to mediate between the factions.
Mungofa claimed that last year Chamisa asked the elders to mediate but was given a cold shoulder by Khupe.
Makuyana also told Business Times that dialogue and mediation were needed in the MDC to end the factionalism.
<h4>More: <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/elders-seek-to-pacify-mdc-tiff/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Business Times</a></h4>

Elders Push For Chamisa, Khupe Talks

The Foreign Affairs Minister, Rtd Gen <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Sibusiso_Moyo">SB Moyo</a> speaking to the Chronicle said there was no going back on the 2018 election results and there can never be a special dispensation hence anyone who wants a dialogue must join <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Political_Actors_Dialogue">POLAD</a>.
The Minister echoed Dr tax’s pleas by saying:
<blockquote>Dr Tax is completely on target in her appeal to all political leaders to come together in support of this ongoing national dialogue, aimed at healing the toxic polarisation which continues to divide our nation and providing a viable platform for all to be heard and for all to contribute towards lasting solutions to the many challenges which confront our young nation.
There can be no going back on the 2018 election outcome. There can be no special dispensation – beyond Polad – to accommodate any political players.</blockquote>
Dr Tax had come under fire on Twitter with Twimbos blasting her for calling for all parties to come together to dialogue a plea that didn’t sit well with other <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Twimbos">Twimbos</a>
More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/no-going-back-on-2018-election-outcome/">The Chronicle</a>
<blockquote> </blockquote>

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