News / National
Mnangagwa, Chamisa talks latest
16 Oct 2018 at 01:35hrs | Views
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa and opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa have taken hardline stances to political engagement, which has stalled progress towards interparty dialogue seen as critical to pulling the southern African nation out of international isolation and launching economic recovery, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has said.
ZCC has been trying to bring Mnangagwa and Chamisa, who were the main contenders in the July 30 poll, to the negotiating table, but despite both of them insisting they were ready to dialogue, they remain far apart.
Chamisa has rejected Mnangagwa's victory despite the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) throwing out his petition challenging the result and has since maintained that he won the election, frequently calling his rival "illegitimate".
Mnangagwa has reportedly offered an olive branch to his nemesis, saying he has "a vital role to perform in Zimbabwe's future" and proposed an official Westminster style "Leader of Opposition" post in Parliament for his rival to be part of the national discourse, but insists that Chamisa must recognise his Presidency.
ZCC secretary-general Kenneth Mtata yesterday said none of the parties seemed ready to compromise.
"Our hope is that political expediency will not jeopardise the possibility of fruitful dialogue. The challenges are not secret at all. They are open for everyone. The first issue is that the MDC (Alliance) leader has not yet accepted the officially announced results of the election, even after the verdict of the ConCourt," Mtata said.
The ZCC secretary-general suggested Chamisa was held up by a need to appease his supporters, while Mnangagwa wanted recognition from the opposition leader first before any talks could begin.
"There are challenges for him (Chamisa) to accept the result because it has been his rallying cry for his followers. But this is the problem for Mnangagwa, who says he cannot go into dialogue with Chamisa if he doesn't recognise him as President," Mtata told NewsDay.
Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said the ruling party did not have an appetite for the dialogue.
"Elections were held and (are) gone, and the opposition challenged the elections, but the Constitutional Court endorsed them (polls). What is the issue now? Let's look ahead in terms of our economic development, that is the challenge we are facing, the stabilisation of the economy in terms of our Vision 2030," Khaya Moyo said, adding Zanu PF was already setting its sights on the 2023 elections.
Chamisa has submitted five demands, including one suggesting that Mnangagwa should cede power to him.
The MDC leader's spokesperson, Nkululeko Sibanda, yesterday maintained his boss' stance.
"The president still says his doors are open for dialogue, and he has a five-point plan, which must be part of any dialogue," he said, without revealing whether or not there was progress on the talks.
Mtata, however, said ZCC's agenda was to find a common post-election national narrative in the country as well as to find a shared understanding of the role of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament proposed by Mnangagwa.
"This is a ministry of the church. We were given that ministry of reconciliation in the Bible, and we believe this is a core mandate of the church and this is the reason why we won't give up. On the other hand, I can say no, because we haven't moved fast enough."
While Zanu PF hawks insist Mnangagwa has a clear mandate from Zimbabweans to govern, Mtata suggested elections alone could be an impediment to nation-building.
"The national question is always resolved by dialogue in Zimbabwe. Anyone who thinks only elections can make things right will have to check again because national questions cannot be resolved by a process that produces winners and losers, but by courageous people who choose to forgo their personal advantages and personal gains to seek the common good at a dialogue table," he said. "This is true in the past, present and future. If there are people who are waiting for the national question to be resolved by elections, then they can wait forever."
Zimbabwe is gripped by a worsening cash crisis and escalating shortages of some basic products.
ZCC has been trying to bring Mnangagwa and Chamisa, who were the main contenders in the July 30 poll, to the negotiating table, but despite both of them insisting they were ready to dialogue, they remain far apart.
Chamisa has rejected Mnangagwa's victory despite the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) throwing out his petition challenging the result and has since maintained that he won the election, frequently calling his rival "illegitimate".
Mnangagwa has reportedly offered an olive branch to his nemesis, saying he has "a vital role to perform in Zimbabwe's future" and proposed an official Westminster style "Leader of Opposition" post in Parliament for his rival to be part of the national discourse, but insists that Chamisa must recognise his Presidency.
ZCC secretary-general Kenneth Mtata yesterday said none of the parties seemed ready to compromise.
"Our hope is that political expediency will not jeopardise the possibility of fruitful dialogue. The challenges are not secret at all. They are open for everyone. The first issue is that the MDC (Alliance) leader has not yet accepted the officially announced results of the election, even after the verdict of the ConCourt," Mtata said.
The ZCC secretary-general suggested Chamisa was held up by a need to appease his supporters, while Mnangagwa wanted recognition from the opposition leader first before any talks could begin.
"There are challenges for him (Chamisa) to accept the result because it has been his rallying cry for his followers. But this is the problem for Mnangagwa, who says he cannot go into dialogue with Chamisa if he doesn't recognise him as President," Mtata told NewsDay.
Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said the ruling party did not have an appetite for the dialogue.
Chamisa has submitted five demands, including one suggesting that Mnangagwa should cede power to him.
The MDC leader's spokesperson, Nkululeko Sibanda, yesterday maintained his boss' stance.
"The president still says his doors are open for dialogue, and he has a five-point plan, which must be part of any dialogue," he said, without revealing whether or not there was progress on the talks.
Mtata, however, said ZCC's agenda was to find a common post-election national narrative in the country as well as to find a shared understanding of the role of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament proposed by Mnangagwa.
"This is a ministry of the church. We were given that ministry of reconciliation in the Bible, and we believe this is a core mandate of the church and this is the reason why we won't give up. On the other hand, I can say no, because we haven't moved fast enough."
While Zanu PF hawks insist Mnangagwa has a clear mandate from Zimbabweans to govern, Mtata suggested elections alone could be an impediment to nation-building.
"The national question is always resolved by dialogue in Zimbabwe. Anyone who thinks only elections can make things right will have to check again because national questions cannot be resolved by a process that produces winners and losers, but by courageous people who choose to forgo their personal advantages and personal gains to seek the common good at a dialogue table," he said. "This is true in the past, present and future. If there are people who are waiting for the national question to be resolved by elections, then they can wait forever."
Zimbabwe is gripped by a worsening cash crisis and escalating shortages of some basic products.
Source - newsday
