Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa Thursday rubbished reports of a Government of National Unity (GNU) ahead of the 2023 general elections!
This comes as several reports had suggested that the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) frontman was pushing for a dialogue with President Emmerson Mnangagwa which would ultimately lead to a GNU.
However, Chamisa said the only meaningful dialogue should be on electoral reforms and bringing unity amongst Zimbabweans.
He called for what he termed a pre elections pact which would allow for smooth transfer of power after the elections next year.
“ It’s about 60 weeks to the 2023 general election.Any dialogue must be about reforms and the road to 2023 not a GNU. As Zimbabweans,we must find each other to avoid a yet another disputed election and all it’s undesired consequences.We need a Pre-Elections Pact on Reforms(PREPARE),”Chamisa said.
Last month while addressing his party supporters in Mutare ahead of the 26 March by-elections, Chamisa accused Mnangagwa of angrily resorting to violence after he turned down his officer for an inclusive government.
“We refused an offer for a government of national unity (GNU) and said let’s go to elections; those who have won will lead and those who lose will support the winners either as opposition or united government, but we will not make the mistakes we made under former late president Morgan Tsvangirai,” said Chamisa.
Tsvangirai entered into a GNU with the late president Robert Mugabe in 2008 after the harmonised elections were widely condemned as not free and fair.
But the GNU was marred by reports that Mugabe’s Zanu PF was deliberately reneging on the agreement to collapse the inclusive government.
Chamisa elaborated that: “Whoever wins an undisputed mandate in 2023 must then unite the nation,form a credible inclusive Team ZIMBABWE and deliver prosperity and happiness.
”The next five years must be about nation building-transforming and developing our economy not just politics and unseemly politicking.”
