OPPOSITION MDC leader Nelson Chamisa says his party would
only go into talks for the purpose of enforcing a cocktail of reforms for the
country to move forward, unlike the ruling Zanu PF which he said seemed to be
obsessed with positions and power.
Chamisa and a delegation of the party’s top leadership were
in Bulawayo since Thursday to hold National Standing Committee, National
Executive and structures meetings.
In an interview, Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda
yesterday said while the political crisis continues, on the international
stage, the MDC’s narrative of the Zimbabwe crisis was being received and
recognised.
“Currently, Sadc is engaged with the Zimbabwe situation
through (former South Africa) President Thabo Mbeki. Chamisa is not negotiating
for positions, but for something better than a Government of National Unity
(GNU),” he said.
“He (Chamisa) is negotiating for political reforms first to
correct the record of 2018 elections, reforms that will never go back again,
disputed elections, military coup and corruption. That is his agenda. Those who
are thinking about positions must forget.”
Sibanda said the national dialogue must be a credible,
bankable and a legitimate process fully guaranteed by the international
community with specific deliverables, benchmarks and timelines through a
mutually agreed and acceptable facilitator “this is his agenda and must be guaranteed”.
He said Chamisa was looking for a national transitional
mechanism, comprehensive reform agenda and free and fair elections under
international supervision.
“It is not a honey trap, but a bee trap. Zanu PF has no
honey to offer. It is clueless, but consistent on its power retention agenda.
There are two options in assisting a sinking ship, it’s either you sink with it
or it will offload you when it gets to the shore,” Sibanda said.
He said Chamisa could not engage in the Political Actors
Dialogue (Polad), describing it as a kids’ game, and adding that MDC was the
one that called for talks with President Emmerson Mnangagwa by writing two
letters first before and after last year’s elections.
He said Chamisa wanted to discuss electoral conduct to
avoid the issue of illegitimacy, but was spurned.
Addressing journalists at a Press conference, MDC
spokesperson Daniel Molokele said the opposition party is opting for a national
transitional mechanism that includes all stakeholders in the country, both
political and non-political groups.
He said this would ensure improvement in the political and
economic environment.
Molokele said the European Union, United Nations and Sadc
had also pointed out that a national transitional mechanism could change the
dire situation in the country.
“A national transitional mechanism is a different concept
altogether because with GNU the political parties in Parliament must form a
government, but in this we are saying all stakeholders in Zimbabwe must form a
temporary government,” he said.
“This means that the president must not come from any
political party, but can be a respected former judge or civic society leader.
The leader is given a two to three-year period to ensure that we have a transitional
process to have comprehensive reforms.”
Molokele said this had happened in other countries such as
Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast.
“It is guaranteed by Sadc, UN, AU that within a two-year
period, it will create a free and fair environment for elections and the winner
becomes the president and illegitimacy comes to an end,” he said.
“As long as there is a dialogue, which has no MDC or Zanu
PF, then there is no dialogue. We will not join Polad as they are an extension
of Zanu PF.”
Molokele said the MDC did not invite Mbeki, adding that the
talks have not yet begun. Newsday
0 comments:
Post a Comment