Mwonzora's MDC wants 'inclusive' dialogue to tackle national crisis

Douglas Mwonzora's MDC-T has called for national dialogue inclusive of all stakeholders across the political divide to remedy the worsening political and economic crisis that has made life unbearable for ordinary citizens.

The opposition, which is part of the discredited POLAD platform with Zanu PF, made the call on Wednesday following a virtual meeting of its National Standing Committee.

"The dialogue must be inclusive, genuine, and unconditional. To that end a committee to look at the dialogue strategy as well as the main issues for dialogue," the party said in a statement.

It called for improved relations between Harare and the international community, noting that the country's pariah status is hurting ordinary citizens.

"The party also reiterated its position that the continued isolation was hurting the common man and woman. It, therefore, calls for the total and equal re-engagement of Zimbabwe with the International Community.

"The Party reiterated that it stands for the unity of all progressive forces to fight for the betterment of the lives of the Zimbabwean people," the statement read.

On Monday the United Kingdom slapped four security chiefs with targeted sanctions for alleged gross human rights violations – the country's first punitive measures on Zimbabwean officials since exiting the European Union.

The sanctioned individuals are police chief Godwin Matanga, state security minister Owen Ncube, Central Intelligence Organisation boss Isaac Moyo and former Presidential Guard commander Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe.

The United States also maintains sanctions on President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his allies over human rights breaches and corruption.