"Mbeki 'Volunteered' To Mediate Between ED, Chamisa During 'Social Visit'"

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba said former South African President Thabo Mbeki was in Zimbabwe on a “social visit” and then “took it upon himself” to help mediate in the political impasse between the country’s squabbling political parties.

Speaking to Business Times, Charamba castigated the MDC for raising “unnecessary matters” that were not on the agenda of Mbeki and President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s discussions. Said Charamba:

He had come to the coun­try on a social visit upon our invitation and he decided to meet MDC leadership here as he was supposed to meet them in South Africa… He took it upon himself to try to help as he once dealt with political talks of the coun­try and wanted to understand what is happening this time around.

It is the MDC which is having political issues with us as we are discussing our political issues in POLAD. MDC should not be trying to raise unnecessary matters that were not discussed by President Mnangagwa and Mbeki.

Mbeki visited the country on Monday before meeting President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his rival, MDC leader Nelson Chamisa separately, members of the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD), and churches and civic organisations.

The internationally-recognised former statesman facilitated dialogue between Robert Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai (both late), resulting in the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU) in 2009.

More: Business Times