News / National
Chamisa, Mnangagwa dialogue plan 'collapses'
17 Oct 2018 at 07:47hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has reportedly said that President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his rival Nelson Chamisa are "seemingly not ready to compromise" their political positions, making it difficult for the two leaders to hold a dialogue.
ZCC, according to reports, has been trying to mediate between the two warring parties since the country's disputed polls in July.
According to NewsDay, ZCC met with the MDC leader early this month, and was "waiting for him to sign some documents" before moving ahead with its plans.
ZCC secretary general Kenneth Mtata, however, declined to say what his organisation discussed with the MDC leader but said the focus was to bring the two warring parties to a negotiating table urgently.
Mtata also said at the time that the ruling Zanu-PF party was willing to talk but wanted the process to be formalised.
But, in another report this week, Mtata said that none of the two warring parties seemed ready to compromise on their position.
Mtata called on the two rivals to put the interest of the country ahead of their political interests, said NewsDay.
Challenges
The MDC remained adamant it was cheated of its electoral victory when the country's top court in August dismissed its bid to have presidential elections annulled over alleged rigging in favour of Mnangagwa.
In a unanimous ruling, Chief Justice Luke Malaba dismissed the application with costs after strongly criticising the legal challenge, AFP reported.
Mnangagwa, of the ruling Zanu-PF party, won the election with 50.6% of the vote - just enough to meet the 50% threshold needed to avoid a run-off against MDC's Chamisa, who scored 44.3%.
Mtata told NewsDay that Chamisa was being 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 was quoted as saying.
ZCC, according to reports, has been trying to mediate between the two warring parties since the country's disputed polls in July.
According to NewsDay, ZCC met with the MDC leader early this month, and was "waiting for him to sign some documents" before moving ahead with its plans.
ZCC secretary general Kenneth Mtata, however, declined to say what his organisation discussed with the MDC leader but said the focus was to bring the two warring parties to a negotiating table urgently.
Mtata also said at the time that the ruling Zanu-PF party was willing to talk but wanted the process to be formalised.
But, in another report this week, Mtata said that none of the two warring parties seemed ready to compromise on their position.
Mtata called on the two rivals to put the interest of the country ahead of their political interests, said NewsDay.
Challenges
The MDC remained adamant it was cheated of its electoral victory when the country's top court in August dismissed its bid to have presidential elections annulled over alleged rigging in favour of Mnangagwa.
In a unanimous ruling, Chief Justice Luke Malaba dismissed the application with costs after strongly criticising the legal challenge, AFP reported.
Mnangagwa, of the ruling Zanu-PF party, won the election with 50.6% of the vote - just enough to meet the 50% threshold needed to avoid a run-off against MDC's Chamisa, who scored 44.3%.
Mtata told NewsDay that Chamisa was being 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 was quoted as saying.
Source - news24
