Self-exiled G40 kingpin Professor Jonathan Moyo and
MDC-Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa
have allegedly written a letter to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and
selected SADC leaders requesting for them to push for exclusive dialogue
between President Mnangagwa and Mr Chamisa, outside the Political Actors
Dialogue (Polad).
The letter dubbed “Open Letter to President Ramaphosa” was
not sent through official channels, but has been distributed to five
newspapers, among them the Sunday Times for publication on Sunday, Kenyan
sources said.
President Ramaphosa is especially targeted since he is
taking over the African Union chairmanship in January next year.
“Chamisa and Moyo have agreed that they would not send the
letter to the Presidents of Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi and Angola, claiming
that ‘the regimes in these countries are as repressive as Zimbabwe.’
“Although they initially wanted to exclude President Masisi
of Botswana from the list of recipients
of the letter, Chamisa assured Moyo that the Khama remnants in the BDP would be
in a position to push Botswana towards a more friendly posture.
“Chamisa and Moyo were advised by US officials to embark on
a diplomatic offensive against the rising anti sanctions sentiments, ahead of
the AU Summit in January 2020,’’ said the sources.
However, the initiative is unlikely to succeed as African
countries are convinced that the sanctions are not justified.
MDC secretary-general Mr Charlton Hwende yesterday said;
“My president Chamisa is very clear in engaging SADC leaders to mediate between
Zanu-PF and MDC-A.
‘There is need for dialogue between the two major political
parties in Zimbabwe to take the country forward.”
Analysts and political leaders have criticised the MDC-A
leader for continuing to insist on dialogue between President Mnangagwa and
himself outside POLAD.
Recently, Mr Chamisa approached bishop of the Zion
Christian Church (ZCC) Nehemiah Mutendi to facilitate dialogue with President
Mnangagwa.
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) leader Professor
Lovemore Madhuku said if the MDC-A was serious about dialogue with Zanu-PF, it
should do so through Polad.
“Polad provides that platform where two political parties
can discuss certain issues without the involvement of other players.
“MDC-A should realise that they are the only party missing
from the framework. They are welcome to join us. Sadc recognises Polad and so
who are they to condemn the platform.
“This country does not belong to ZANU-PF and MDC-A only,
other parties constitute almost five percent, which is a big number,” said
Professor Madhuku
Political analyst Mr Tafadzwa Mugwadi said it was
interesting that Mr Chamisa was pushing for a parallel process that excluded
other players at a time when the Polad platform had been endorsed by
progressive forces.
“That only serves to show that he is aware that he is fast
losing relevance even among his kingmakers in the vanguard. He should sort out
his own problem than hiding behind the excuse of bilateral discussions with
President Mnangagwa,” he said.
MDC-T vice president Obert Gutu said MDC-A should
appreciate the efforts of local co-conveners of Polad led by retired Justice
Selo Nare from the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission and Mrs
Margaret Sangarwe from the Zimbabwe Gender Commission to initiate the dialogue
process.
“These two individuals are not only proud Zimbabweans, they
are also people of impeccable integrity and credentials.
“This attitude of always wanting and preferring foreign
things at the expense of our own home-grown solutions and ideas is clearly
indicative of low self-esteem and self-hate. Dreaming of a foreign convenor to
chair Polad is like experiencing a torrid and horrible nightmare.
“That is not going to happen. Zimbabweans will manage
dialogue amongst themselves. They don’t need a foreigner to handle their dialogue,”
said Mr Gutu.
Professor Richard Chinomona said Zimbabwe needed every
patriotic citizen to contribute the best of his or her ability towards
rebuilding the nation.
“The dialogue process should be done in the spirit of love
for our country that should take precedence over our own personal political,
economic or other ambitions.
“There should be no special treatment of certain
individuals or groups.
“These platforms could be political such as Polad, churches
and business among other platforms,” he said.
Professor Chinomona said Government should put together all
these views and concretise them into policies, programmes and activities that
promote peace, stability and prosperity for the common good of all.
“I think it is myopic for any one individual or group of
individuals to think that they hold the keys to Zimbabwe’s economic
challenges,” he said
Polad member, Rebuild Party of Zimbabwe leader Reverent
Everesto Chikanga said MDC-A should not use Polad as a sticking point for
dialogue with Zanu-PF.
“President Mnangagwa is everyone’s President. Chamisa is
free to engage President Mnangagwa, but he should recognise him as the
President of Zimbabwe first. If we are looking for a national dialogue that
will take our country forward, Polad is the only platform.
“It has already been endorsed by the international
community, including Sadc and the AU among others. President Mnangagwa is
saying everyone should join Polad.
“If he is serious about dialogue, Chamisa should do so,”
said Rev Chikanga. Herald
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