By Christopher Makaza
Stakeholders under the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) comprising of 18 political parties have lined up five key issues which they want to discuss with President Mnangagwa tomorrow.
Among the key issues discussed at a workshop held in Bulawayo on Tuesday are economic issues in which they agreed that there must be loud and clear calls for the removal of illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West under Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA). The team noted that sanctions are the primary source of Zimbabwe`s economic problems.
While other political parties are condemning sanctions, MDC and its leadership continue to lobby for more sanctions as they capitalise on the suffering of the electorate hoping that the people will one day fight the government because of poverty.
The MDC-Alliance invited sanctions on Zimbabwe in an act of political expediency, resulting in the United States passing the amended ZIDERA which MDC Vice President Tendai Biti contributed in crafting.
The sanctions are for the benefit of the MDC-Alliance, not for the ordinary person suffering on the streets. If people suffer because of them, then they will never be good leaders.
POLAD discussed the issue of governance where they suggested that they must carry out consultative meetings countrywide with a view to gathering views from the public on how best the leadership can govern them. They promised to fully support Government through the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) in the fight against corruption.
On the issue of National healing and National Building, they highlighted that they would engage grassroots especially Matabeleland where the issue of Gukurahundi is topical.
The pledge is coming amid concerted efforts from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other anti-government organisations to use the issue to tarnish the image of government.
President Mnangagwa met with chiefs from the Matabeleland region and the Midlands Province at State House in June to discuss a number of issues, including traditional leaders taking a leading role in bringing closure to the Gukurahundi chapter.
The team also discussed about international re-engagement, where they suggested that they work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade so that they push the issue of international engagement.
President Mnangagwa’s triple-pronged re-engagement drive has been hailed by Zimbabweans as it has placed the country on a solid path to economic recovery. The President is pursuing local, regional and international engagement which was a departure from the old dispensation that was averse to even local engagement with business and civic society.
On legislative agenda it was agreed that POLAD should be formalised through coming up with Memorandum of Understandings by political parties involved so that it will exist as an Act of Parliament.
POLAD castigated MDC for not being part of the dialogue. MDC President Nelson Chamisa refused to be part of the dialogue train accusing President Mnangagwa of being an illegitimate President. Chamisa is also trying to elbow out other political parties for him to have an exclusive dialogue with President Mnangagwa with a view to forming a Government of National Unity. President Mnangagwa has since dismissed any plans to form a GNU as he was voted by the people of Zimbabwe. The ruling party also enjoys a two thirds majority in Parliament.
