By Shongedzai Mugwagwa

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has led a delegation of 18 leaders of other political parties to Cyclone Idai affected areas of Chimanimani.

In a rare opportunity which speaks volume of an open democratic space ushered in by President Mnangagwa and his new dispensation, the President has urged political leaders to feel free and express themselves and even interview or address the Cyclone Idai victims.

The President advised the auditorium during a briefing held at the Golden Peacock hotel in Mutare, that there will be helicopters which would fly the political leaders into areas such as Kopa, Jopa, Silverstream, Ngangu, Cashel Valley and Rusitu.

After the daylong tours which will be held concurrently, the groups will converge at Ngangu in Chimanimani where the President together with the political leaders who are involved in the ongoing dialogue, will hold a national clean-up campaign.

The President has moved the clean-up campaign from Friday 5 April to today because he said that he would want to take the opportunity to do the campaign together with other leaders of the 18 political parties.

To show the weightiness of the ongoing dialogue, President Mnangagwa who was supposed to give a vote of thanks and closing remarks chose former Deputy Prime Minister and MDC-T leader, Dr Thokozani Khupe to give a vote of thanks.

In her vote of thanks remarks, Khupe stressed that unity amongst political leaders and Zimbabwe as a whole is key to economic development.

She stated that as political leaders, they should preach peace wherever they are and desist from political grandstanding.