Nelson Chamisa, the president of Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has rejected the invitation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa to participate in a national dialogue, Dr. Nkululeko Sibanda, the presidential spokesman for the party’s president, told Sputnik on Wednesday.
“No, because it will be a sham. There can be no talks,” Sibanda said, asked if the MDC would participate in the national dialogue talks.
Sibanda also argued that the agenda of the Mnangagwa-proposed talks skipped over vital issues relating to the country’s legal and economic environment.
“We have been told that it is a post-election dialogue and the agenda does not include some of the important questions around the application of the constitution, the legitimacy of the government, and also how to turn around the economy,” Sibanda stated.
According to Sibanda, Mnangagwa ignored security problems in the country when he called a national dialogue congress.
“We have a terrible security situation in the country and we are being provided with a venue. We certainly don’t think that the venue is safe. Therefore we don’t think that President Mnangagwa is being genuine,” Sibanda said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mnangagwa said he had called a meeting of all political parties, in a bid to kick-start the national dialogue.
“I have invited the leaders of all political parties to come together, without preconditions, to begin a process of national dialogue. Let us all put the people first and politics second,” he tweeted.
I have invited the leaders of all political parties to come together, without preconditions, to begin a process of national dialogue. Let us all put the people first and politics second.
— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa)
Calls for a national dialogue have been getting louder in Zimbabwe in light of the country’s violent suppression of nationwide protests against increased fuel prices, which came into effect in mid-January. According to media reports, over 10 people have been killed in protests, while dozens of others have received gunshot wounds. The violent turn of the events caused the country’s government and opposition to clash in an exchange of accusations.
