SA Says External Facilitator Will Give Credibility To ED Dialogue

South Africa’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mphakama Mbete has urged Zimbabwe to look for a mediator to facilitate the dialogue between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and opposition parties.

He made these remarks at the launch of the Political Actors’ Forum in Harare that was boycotted by the main opposition led by Nelson Chamisa. Addressing delegates attending the event, Ambassador Mbete said:

For credibility the leadership of Zimbabwe wishes to consider a facilitator outside Zimbabwe. We as a region we will be ready to propose names from the African continent. At this point we would like to appeal to the political formations, to the political leaders who are now yet part of the political dialogue to join the national dialogue.

Chamisa’s party has been adamant that it won’t join the dialogue if Mnangagwa’s legitimacy is not on the agenda. The party also labelled the dialogue without the MDC a “bottomless errand”.

Meanwhile, Mnangagwa has said that dialogue is open for everyone but there won’t be any special treatment to anyone.

The dialogue was expected to address the political and economic crises. The standoff between the ZANU PF and the MDC has done less to help the situation.

Tensions have been increasing between the government and the opposition. The government is attributing the country’s woes to the opposition which it says is sabotaging the economy. On the other hand, the opposition is arguing that poor policies and corruption by government and government officials have thrown the nation into this mess.

More: VOA Zimbabwe