With Zimbabwe on the brink of a total economic collapse, calls for dialogue between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his opposite number, Nelson Chamisa widely viewed as a long term solution to the problems bedeviling the nation, have gathered momentum.
Since the July 2018 general elections, the socio-economic and political situation has greatly shrunk amid counter accusations between the opposition and ruling party over the obtaining political and economic challenges facing the country.
However, everyone is convinced only dialogue has the potential to move the country forward.
During his State of the Nation Address (SONA) recently, Mnangagwa called on all parties, including Chamisa’s MDC, to join the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) to which the opposition leader said the only time a dialogue would go ahead is when the legitimacy question is addressed.
A civil society lobby group, Citizens’ Manifesto said there is a need for an inclusive national dialogue which encompasses the aspirations of the nation in all its diversity but the dialogue should not merely be on political issues.
“While there may be temptations, like in past political dialogues, to merely address the question of political power, Zimbabwe’s crisis has deep-seated social and economic dimensions which require urgent comprehensive redressing. Our multi-faceted crisis requires a broad-based approach to bring about a lasting and acceptable solution,” read the statement.
Exiled former Tourism Minister, Walter Mzembi also joined the bandwagon of people and organisations pushing for dialogue between Mnangagwa and Chamisa.
“The invaluable role of public opinion – for instance, civil society, the church, cross-party agents, lobbyists, etc – and the building of national consensus on the need to talk or talk about talks, and ultimately the escalation of it all to party agendas, the government, and right up to the main protagonists, is very much needed,” Mzembi said recently.
Legal expert, Learnmore Zuze said there is a need for a transitional authority which excludes political players if Zimbabwe is to move forward.
“Zimbabwe can only move on with a transitional authority. It is a lie that politics can help alleviate this economic crisis. Zanu PF can no longer go it alone.
“In my view, everything being equal, a transitional authority that largely excludes politicians would be ideal. I maintain that such a situation would be the most ideal,” he commented on one of the local daily papers.
In the past, Presidential Advisory Council member, Shingi Munyeza has voiced out the need for his boss to join hands with the opposition leader.
Last week, the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) called for the suspension of elections as they said the nation needed to press the reset button and move away from politicking.
