Chairpersons for national dialogue named, Mnangagwa happy

Political parties that participated in the 2018 July harmonised elections met yesterday and appointed Chairman of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) Justice Sello Nare and Chairperson of the Gender Commission, Margaret Sangarwe Mkahanana as co-chairpersons of the national dialogue.  At least 18 parties attended the meeting held at State House.

Briefing the media after the meeting, President Mnangagwa said the parties adopted recommendations made by thematic committees and a launch of the actual dialogue will be held on the first week of May this year.

The meeting and dialogue of political parties is part of President Mnangagwa's broad-based approach towards nation building and national healing, which will see Zimbabweans finding each other on the national question.

"We had a very serious and focused discussion this morning with the heads of political parties. All together we were 18. We have resolved that the question of moderator or convenor shall be two the Chairperson of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission Justice Sello Nare and the Chairperson of the Gender Commission, Margaret Sangarwe Mkahanana will be the other co-chair of the dialogue," he said.

"We have agreed on the programmes that the three committees have recommended. We have adopted the recommendations they have made between now and the launch which is going to happen during the first week of May. These committees are going to put content into the launch for the actual dialogue on issues that we have identified.

"So we are happy that we are moving together with rest of the political parties except one or two who have not but we and other political parties constitute the majority of the people in this country. If you put our vote as Zanu-PF and that of the others the six percent, two percent, one percent we are over 60 percent."

President Mnangagwa said he was happy that the parties agreed as Zimbabweans that they should sit together to interrogate the challenges the country is facing.

He said the political leaders had also suggested that it was necessary to visit the victims of Cyclone Idai together and demonstrate that when a disaster of that nature strikes Zimbabweans can rise and demonstrate their concern together.

"We have agreed that in the course of next week all the political parties participating in dialogue shall all be brought together to visit affected areas in Chimanimani and Chipinge. I think this is a very good idea."

Justice Nare said political parties would be required to submit two names, a male and a female, of their representatives to the dialogue coordinating committee by Tuesday next week.

"The content and programme for the launch day will be arranged, and regional and international observers will be invited to witness the historic launch. It is expected that the launch will be accompanied by the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement which will guide the conduct of the participants in the National Dialogue," he said.

"In the meantime, it has been resolved that the entire leadership of political parties will during the course of next week, possibly Wednesday, conduct a tour of the districts ravaged by Cyclone Idai in Manicaland. Each party will submit four names of persons who will take part in this tour."