G40 Facilitating Mugabe, Mnangagwa Talks

Daily News reports that former Foreign Affairs Minister Walter Mzembi and ex-sports minister Makhosini Hlongwane are working on bringing President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his predecessor Robert Mugabe on the negotiating table. This follows reports that Mugabe is behind the formation of the Ambrose Mutinhiri-led National Patriotic Front (NPF).

The deal being proposed by the former G40 members involves bringing in Mugabe as a Zanu-PF “elder” to back his former deputy’s presidential bid in the forthcoming elections. Daily News also reports that G40 has now split, with Professor Jonathan Moyo leading those in exile who are backing the NPF with another faction which is in Zimbabwe, being led by Mzembi and Hlongwane. This faction is pushing the initiative to bring Mugabe and Mnangagwa to the negotiating table, and possibly also get ousted G40 members readmitted into Zanu-PF.

When contacted for comment by Daily News regarding the issue, Mzembi and Hlongwane declined. The publication however reports that Mugabe met with Mzembi and Hlongwane for the second time at his Blue Roof residence in the absence of Grace last Thursday and finally agreed to a deal to engage Mnangagwa for talks. The former ministers are yet to approach Mnangagwa.