News / National
Mnangagwa says Chamisa has right to snub dialogue meeting
07 Feb 2019 at 07:50hrs | Views
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa says it is MDC leader Nelson Chamisa's democratic right to boycott a dialogue meeting he had called for the country's political leadership at State House on Wednesday.
He said this at a media briefing soon after his four-hour long meeting with politicians who challenged him in the presidential race last July.
Chamisa, who came a close second to Mnangagwa in the disputed poll, did not attend. None of his party members also attended the event.
Asked what he had to say about Chamisa's absence, Mnangagwa said it was the MDC leader's democratic right to shun the event.
"I invited everyone to this meeting and other parties who did not attend, it is their democratic right to do so and also for those who attended, it is also their democratic right to attend the meeting," Mnangagwa said.
Chamisa and his party have been at the forefront of demanding for national dialogue but have refused to recognise Mnangagwa's legitimacy, insisting the Zanu-PF leader rigged his way to power.
Among notable political figures who attended the event which went late into the evening on Wednesday were MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe, Lovemore Madhuku of NCA, Elton Mangoma of CODE and Nkosana Moyo of Alliance for People's Agenda (APA).
Zanu-PF politicians who were at the meeting included Vice President Kembo Mohadi, and top politicians Sydney Sekeramayi, Patrick Chinamasa and Chris Mushohwe.
He said this at a media briefing soon after his four-hour long meeting with politicians who challenged him in the presidential race last July.
Chamisa, who came a close second to Mnangagwa in the disputed poll, did not attend. None of his party members also attended the event.
Asked what he had to say about Chamisa's absence, Mnangagwa said it was the MDC leader's democratic right to shun the event.
"I invited everyone to this meeting and other parties who did not attend, it is their democratic right to do so and also for those who attended, it is also their democratic right to attend the meeting," Mnangagwa said.
Chamisa and his party have been at the forefront of demanding for national dialogue but have refused to recognise Mnangagwa's legitimacy, insisting the Zanu-PF leader rigged his way to power.
Among notable political figures who attended the event which went late into the evening on Wednesday were MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe, Lovemore Madhuku of NCA, Elton Mangoma of CODE and Nkosana Moyo of Alliance for People's Agenda (APA).
Zanu-PF politicians who were at the meeting included Vice President Kembo Mohadi, and top politicians Sydney Sekeramayi, Patrick Chinamasa and Chris Mushohwe.
Source - newzimbabwe
