VICE President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has said there is no
need for external mediation in Zimbabwe as the country has the capacity to find
home-grown solutions to its problems.
VP Chiwenga said most of the parties that took part in the
2018 harmonised elections were already participating in the dialogue initiated
by President Mnangagwa to find a common understanding on how to move the
country forward.
The Vice President made the remarks while introducing
President Mnangagwa at a meeting held between the country’s Presidium and
members of the Inter-Denominational Council of Churches at State House on
Monday.
The main opposition MDC-Alliance led by Mr Nelson Chamisa
has refused to be part of the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad), demanding an
external mediator as a precondition.
Mr Chamisa spurned an olive branch extended to him by
President Mnangagwa for him to be recognised as the leader of the opposition in
Parliament.
Said VP Chiwenga: “His Excellency the President has a
meeting with all political actors who participated in the 2018 harmonised
elections under the Political Actors Dialogue except for one or two political
parties that are yet to join others.
There is no doubt that a peaceful environment in our country translates
into socio-economic development, empowerment and growth of our country.
“Let me, therefore, reiterate His Excellency’s view that as
Zimbabweans we are capable of finding enduring solutions to our own challenges.
As such, home-grown solutions are to be pursued than international mediation
that other parties are trying to pursue.
“Hatiende kunotsvaga nyamukuta kunext door. Vana nyamukuta
vedu tinavo muno.”
More than 112 indigenous churches that were represented at
State House on Monday endorsed the political dialogue being undertaken by the
political parties, but stressed that the discussions should proceed on the
premise of respect for President Mnangagwa’s legitimacy and the country’s
institutions.
They said the issue of legitimacy was settled by the result
of the 2018 Presidential polls and confirmed by the country’s highest court of
appeal, the Constitutional Court. The churches leaders voiced their stake in
matters of national interest, saying churches were attended by the majority of
Zimbabweans.
Last week, Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC)
secretary-general Reverend Dr Kenneth Mtata said churches were strongly behind
the political dialogue, but wanted the engagements to be comprehensive and
broad-based, to the extent of including them.
The ZCC is made up of 26 churches with full membership, 10
associate church bodies, among them the Roman Catholic Church, and three
observer church organisations. Herald
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