PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has no choice, but to agree to
the formation of a transitional authority if Zimbabwe is to emerge out of the
chaos engulfing the country, opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has
said.
Chamisa reacted angrily to reports that Mnangagwa had
effectively ruled out any possibility of talks, let alone the formation of a
political structure to superintend the country inclusive of the opposition.
Early this week, Chamisa told journalists that Mnangagwa
and his Zanu PF party had reneged on a promise to the late former Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to form an inclusive government following the fall
of long-time ruler, former President Robert Mugabe in November last year.
But in his address to the Zanu PF central committee on
Thursday, Mnangagwa said there were no plans for a Government of National Unity
(GNU).
Chamisa, however, said Mnangagwa had no choice. “Arrogance and pride come before a fall. Zimbabwe is in a
polarised and divided position on account of arrogance as well as exclusive
partisan politics,” said Chamisa, who lost to Mnangagwa by a wafer thin margin
in the July 30 presidential elections, but insists he was defrauded of victory.
Chamisa said he was not demanding a GNU, but wanted a
transitional authority. “Nobody wants a GNU. We have said we want a
transitional authority because our nation is in transition. It needs a return
to legitimacy and an emergency economic rescue package.
“As far as we are concerned, we do not have a government
that has the backing of the people. This (Mnangagwa government) does not have
the people’s mandate. It is the product of a contested and illegitimate
declaration by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec),” the opposition leader
told NewsDay Weekender yesterday.
“I don’t know where Mnangagwa is getting the idea that we
want a GNU. We never said we wanted a GNU. It has never been in our thoughts.
We have said Zimbabwe needs a transitional authority which is bigger than a
GNU.”
Chamisa said while the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) had
thrown out his petition and confirmed Mnangagwa as duly elected President, his
legitimacy remained in question.
“The ConCourt gave its position, but in politics the court
of public opinion reigns supreme. The people are the ultimate arbiters in
political issues. They have the ultimate authority.
“The beauty about this is that Mnangagwa has not contested
our argument that he did not win the election. He is just arguing that Zec
declared him winner, but we have said beyond that declaration, there were
issues of legitimacy that he does not have,” the opposition leader said.
Chamisa argued a transitional authority would unite the
country and kick-start the economy on the back of international goodwill.
“Mnangagwa must eat humble pie and accept that this country
is bigger than him. He must respect the people of Zimbabwe and understand that
this country will need all forces and faces to unite in order for it to move forward.
“The economy is always the mirror through which we see the
real national situation and you have seen how it is behaving. There is deep
seated dislocation, a deficit of leadership, governance, trust and confidence,”
he said.
The country has been on an economic tailspin since Finance
minister Mthuli Ncube’s announcement of the Transitional Economic Stabilisation
Programme, with basic goods disappearing from the shelves while prices continue
to sky rocket. Newsday
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