No POLAD, No Dialogue; ED Tells Chamisa

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has insisted that the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) is the only platform where political dialogue will take place.

Speaking to reporters, Mnangagwa said former South African President Thabo Mbeki never pushed for talks when they met. He said:

He never pushed for talks when he [Mbeki] met me. We are very old friends. We discussed the political situation in the country and I explained to him that with regard to dialogue, we have a platform where every political party can freely come including MDC under Chamisa.

[POLAD] is the only platform where political dialogue will take place.

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