PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly sent
emissaries to opposition MDC Alliance, seeking a “pre-election
understanding” ahead of make-or-break polls later this month,
presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa has sensationally claimed.
The 40-year-old opposition leader seen as posing the greatest threat
to Zanu PF’s near four-decade-long stranglehold on power said he
believed that Mnangagwa, who came to power following a military
intervention that facilitated former President Robert Mugabe’s departure
last November, “is safer” under an opposition administration than his
own.
Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda told NewsDay yesterday that
Mnangagwa had sent emissaries to “create an understanding” fearing an
electoral loss.
Sibanda was responding to reports that Chamisa was in the process of
negotiations for a possible audacious post-election arrangement that
could bring former First Lady Grace Mugabe back as Vice-President eight
months after her husband was forced out by a combination of a military
intervention and a nationwide outpouring of resentment.
“The thing is Mnangagwa and his junta government wants to use State
media to create a narrative that will alienate us from the electorate.
They want us to lash out at some people or political groups, but that
would be ludicrous for Chamisa or any other politician to do three weeks
before an election.
“We are canvassing for every vote, including Mnangagwa’s. Mnangagwa is safer under a Chamisa government than his own.
I can tell you now that we have received his emissaries keen to come
up with what they are calling a ‘pre-election understanding’ because
they can see the game is up,” Sibanda said.
“Mnangagwa and his people want to alienate Chamisa from everyone else and then talk to him about their future.
Chamisa is busy with campaigns and has no time for negotiating with
anyone. But he will welcome every vote,” Chamisa’s spin doctor added,
denying reports that the MDC-T leader was also making last-minute
engagements with the Mugabe-linked National Patriotic Front.
Contacted for comment, Zanu PF deputy secretary for legal affairs,
Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana dismissed Chamisa’s claims as “dreams of little
boys”.
“The youths are allowed to dream, but not on important national
issues. This is not child’s play, but we are talking of a critical
national process. President Mnangagwa has the support of the masses and
we do not call for an election to enter into negotiations with people.
“We do not have an agenda to negotiate with anyone. That is a
constitutional issue and I would have known. The President has sent no
emissaries to anyone,” Mangwana said. Newsday
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