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Source: The nation talks | The Herald February 7, 2019

UNITED WE STAND . . . President Mnangagwa (wearing scarf) poses for a group photograph with some leaders of opposition political parties that contested the July 3o, 2018 presidential elections after a meeting to come up with a framework for national dialogue at State House in Harare yesterday. — (Picture by Tawanda Mudimu)

Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
Political parties that fielded presidential candidates in the July 30, 2018 harmonised elections yesterday met at State House in Harare and committed themselves to the principle of dialogue and working together to resolve challenges facing the country.

Out of 23 parties that fielded presidential candidates in the internationally-observed harmonised elections, 21 were represented.

Only MDC-Alliance — led by Mr Nelson Chamisa — and the Republican Party from Bulawayo failed to show up, confirming that Zimbabwe as a nation was ready to engage itself to solve a myriad problems it is facing.

The dialogue was part of an expansive berth that President Mnangagwa has given to engage all stakeholders, including the Church and civil society, to confront the national question.

And yesterday, the President described the occasion as historic as it affirmed political maturity among Zimbabweans.

The parties agreed that there should be no precondition for dialogue and that there should be no sacred issues during the discussions.

Further, it was agreed that both political and economic reforms should be implemented while politically-motivated violence should be shunned.

Other salient issues such as the continued imposition of sanctions on the country by the West rallied the Zimbabwean leaders.

Four committees were set up, with the first one focusing on the institutional framework of the dialogue, while the second would deal with the agenda items for the dialogue.

The third committee was going to determine the convenor of the dialogue, while the fourth one would be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the agreed issues.

Welcoming participants, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabweans had the right to chart their destiny with outsiders only coming in to assist.

He said he invited other parties to a national dialogue in fulfilment of his pledge during his inauguration that he would engage and consult fellow presidential aspirants on ways to move the country forward.

“We owe it to ourselves as Zimbabweans to raise our country higher up the pecking order of nations,” said President Mnangagwa.

“Outsiders can only come in to assist us but the prime responsibility for our country’s development remains ours. This is what sovereignty means. Moreover, true peace can never be imposed from outside, but must come from within our own society, and can be nurtured by us on the seedbed of dialogue, honesty and mutual respect. It is my hope that this inaugural dialogue by our political parties will provide a firm foundation upon which together and without undue foreign interference, we can build the Zimbabwe we all want.”

President Mnangagwa said no individual had a monopoly over ideas thus people should close ranks as Zimbabweans and unite towards the common goal of developing the country.

Commenting on how the dialogue should proceed, President Mnangagwa said all parties should accept the results of the July 30, 2018 harmonised elections as a legitimate expression of the will of the people of Zimbabwe.

He said all political parties should take a stand against the illegal sanctions imposed on the country and the call for their removal should be an all-party affair.

Said President Mnangagwa: “With unity at home and successful re-engagement abroad, Zimbabwe is an attractive destination for domestic and foreign direct investment. Admittedly, there are key reforms which we need to embark upon, which is where all of us come in to proffer ideas both for reforms and to make ourselves more attractive for investment. I challenge all of us to come up with ideas that can take our country forward. As leaders of our political parties, our gathering together today is a milestone, which should always remind us of the supremacy of dialogue over conflict and of collaboration over confrontation, as instruments for nation building, As for me, I sincerely look forward to the sage advice and healthy exchange of views from all of you brothers and sisters.”

After the meeting, which lasted several hours, President Mnangagwa said: “I think this interaction or consultation between the leaders of the political parties which participated in the 2018 harmonised elections was overdue. I am sure you listened as I explained at the beginning the consummation of this meeting. However I am happy that we have been able to come together as Zimbabwean political parties to discuss issues affecting our country in particular in the area of the economy, reforms, political and economic reforms and various views on how political party leaders think we should move forward. I am happy that we have come to the conclusion that we need to further come together and interrogate how as a people, as a country can move forward in unity and in peace. Many negative issues have been raised which the political parties would want addressed. I am happy that there was democratic space for every single leader of political parties that have attended to express themselves openly and freely. This is what it should be. I believe that with this beginning we should as we go forward find each other and chart a common course for our country to move together.

President Mnangagwa said he invited all political parties that participated in last year’s elections and those who chose not to attend were exercising their democratic right.

MDC-T leader Ms Thokozani Khupe said: “We must pride ourselves as a country because of the fact that we have managed to come together as opposition parties and the ruling party to chart the way forward in regards to our country and our economy. We are saying we must put our differences aside as political parties and come together so that we talk about moving our country forward. We want a better life for every Zimbabwean. The people of Zimbabwe want food on their tables, they want jobs, they want houses and they want good health and education. We agreed as political parties that we are going dialogue as political parties around these issues so that we find permanent solutions to the problems bedevilling our country.

National Constitutional Assembly leader Professor Lovemore Maduku said: “The purpose of today’s meeting was really to find each other. We are Zimbabweans and as Zimbabweans there can be no harm in meeting from time to time discussing issues we face as a country. The most important issue is to raise the standard of living of our people. As opposition political parties we have a contribution to make as Government has also a contribution to make.”

Chairperson of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission Justice Selo Nare moderated yesterday’s meeting.

The post The nation talks  appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

The military yesterday alleged that protesters broke into police armouries and stole guns which they used to kill citizens, including a police officer, during last month’s national shutdown that turned violent. Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Chief of Staff, Major-General Douglas Nyikayaramba distanced the military from the shootings. He, however, justified […]

Source: Accept poll results and move on: ED | Newsday (News)

BY BLESSED MHLANGA

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday called on all opposition political parties to accept his victory in the July 30, 2018 election and join him to fight sanctions so that the country can move forward.

Mnangagwa told a meeting of politicians, who contested the presidential election to draw up terms for a national dialogue, saying the results of the poll should form the basis of the talks.

“In view of the July 30 results and subsequent Constitutional Court pronouncements, I suggest that we all accept the results of our harmonised elections as a legitimate expression of the will of the Zimbabwean people, in order for us to focus on the next elections which are due in 2023,” he said.

The talks were attended by most of the contestants, but were snubbed by MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa and former Vice-President and leader of the National People’s Party, Joice Mujuru.

Mnangagwa said it was important for the opposition to close ranks with Zanu PF and fight the possible threat of new sanctions from the West following a violent crackdown by security forces on protesters last month, which brought comparisons with the dark days of former President Robert Mugabe’s regime.

“We have to put our heads together as Zimbabweans to intensify our engagement and re-engagement efforts towards the re-integration of our country into the family of nations and for the total removal of sanctions against our country. The effort must be an all-party affair by way of pronouncements and by way of actual engagements,” Mnangagwa said.

“Admittedly, there are key reforms which we need to embark upon, which is where all of us come in to proffer ideas both for reforms and to make ourselves more attractive for investments. I challenge all of us to come up with ideas that can take our country forward.”

The dialogue was moderated by the National Peace Reconciliation Commission chairperson Retired Justice Sello Nare.

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Source: Chamisa snubs ED talks | Newsday (News)

BY BLESSED MHLANGA/OBEY MANAYITI

OPPOSITION MDC leader Nelson Chamisa (pictured) yesterday snubbed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s national dialogue meeting at State House, saying the process was a flawed public relations stunt meant to appease the international community, instead of resolving the political and economic crisis in the country.

Mnangagwa, who won a disputed presidential poll in July last year, invited all 23 politicians who contested the presidential election to a meeting yesterday to draw up terms for a national dialogue, but Chamisa, who leads the main opposition party in the country, said the call was meant to hoodwink the international community following a brutal crackdown on protesters by security forces which killed 17 and left hundreds nursing injuries, including gunshot wounds.

Chamisa maintains that he won the July 31 election and calls Mnangagwa illegitimate.

He told NewsDay that he was still open to dialogue if his opponent showed a “genuine desire” to end the political and economic crisis.

“The real dialogue that we are supposed to have as a nation has not started, not these games. We have a political crisis arising out of a disputed and rigged presidential election result in Zimbabwe. The presidency is disputed. We need genuine dialogue under a credible convener and mediator to solve this crisis. Stop citizen abuses, beatings and arrests,” he said.

The opposition leader said Mnangagwa was treating him like a toddler.

“Mr Mnangagwa and his colleagues are making a mistake of thinking that he is talking to just a 41-year-old. When he is engaging me, he is talking to 2,6 million voices. So, in my voice, there are 2,6 million voices of Zimbabweans and he should not expect to meet with them because they will not, they have sent me,” he said.

“Mr Mnangagwa is party to this dispute. He, therefore, cannot chair a meeting where the complaints are against him.”

MDC officials said they believed that Mnangagwa had called for dialogue ahead of the Africa Union summit to avoid possible criticism from the continental bloc, which is reportedly worried about the unfolding events in Harare.

“Just last week, Presidential spokesperson George Charamba was on record saying they don’t want talks, but all of a sudden, they want national dialogue ahead of the AU summit and at a time the United Kingdom is now considering fresh sanctions. These are not genuine talks, it’s PR,” an official said.

Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda said there were many things wrong about the talks, which included the venue, the chairperson and victimisation of the party.

“We can’t, in all honesty, send president Chamisa to State House. When you call for dialogue, you discuss with equals and that should be reflected on how this is handled. The short notice, the shifting of venue and dates will show you this is not about talks, but a power game and we are not interested in those games,” Sibanda said.

The National Patriotic Front (NPF), which is represented in Parliament by Masango Matambanadzo, also snubbed the talks, calling on Mnangagwa to first stop the alleged victimisation of party leaders.

“As a party, our deputy national commissar, Jim Kunaka, and our Mashonaland central chairperson Dickson Mafios are languishing in prison as political prisoners.

Several high-ranking officials skipped the borders running away from State security agents hunting them as if they are common criminals … We believe as a party that dialogue aimed at extricating our country from the current mess must be facilitated and guaranteed by an international body given powers to superintend over implementation of any agreement,” NPF said.

The Platform for Concerned Citizens (PCC), jointly convened by academics, Ibbo Mandaza and Tony Reeler, said Zimbabwe could only navigate from its current crisis through a people-driven dialogue, where several topical issues would be discussed.

“Zimbabwe is a more divided country than at any time since Independence,” the PCC said in a statement.

“Virtually, every church grouping, civil society, and a number of international organisations have called for a national dialogue. The call for an inclusive, national dialogue has been made since November 2017. The only way in which the current crisis can be resolved is through a nationally-owned and nationally-driven comprehensive dialogue.”

PCC said there was evidence that the Constitution was violated and that there was need to restore the rule of law in the country.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) said the meeting called by Mnangagwa was exclusionary and against the spirit of promoting national dialogue.

CiZC said a national dialogue process must never be restricted to political parties, but should rather bring on board a cross section of stakeholders that include civic society, labour, women, youth, person living disabilities, farmers, media, students, the diaspora, religious groups and business among other critical stakeholders.

“Restricting the dialogue process to political parties will only create a political pact that excludes the concerns of ordinary citizens,” CiZC said.

Among the candidates who took part in last year’s presidential poll include former Vice-President Joice Mujuru of the People’s Rainbow Coalition, former Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe of the MDC-T and little-known aspirants, Melbah Dzapasi of #1980 Freedom Movement Zimbabwe and Violet Mariyacha of United Democratic Movement.

The other candidates included Noah Manyika of Build Zimbabwe Alliance, Joseph Busha of Free Zim Congress, Blessing Kasiyamhuru of ZIPP, Brian Mteki an independent, Lovemore Madhuku of NCA and Nkosana Moyo of Alliance for the People’s Agenda.

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MDC vice-president Morgan Komichi yesterday singled out Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba as the main elections fraudster and alleged that other commissioners were even surprised with the results she announced for the 2018 presidential election. Komichi, who was leading evidence during cross-examination by his lawyer Obey Shava, told the court that as chief […]