By Tendai Matunhu
MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa who has been refusing to join the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD), has made a U-turn on the issue following pressure from within and outside that party.
Speaking at an MDC rally on Saturday at Chisamba grounds in Mutare, Chamisa said he had opened doors for dialogue which he said must lead to a Government of National Unity (GNU). He said GNU would ensure the two main parties (Zanu PF and MDC) collectively fight for the removal of the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
Chamisa said the party had opened the doors for dialogue for the interest of the people but threatened that he could close the doors if Zanu PF failed to respond in the earliest time.
Political analyst, Dr Khumbula Manyewe highlighted that Chamisa`s sudden about-turn on the issue of dialogue is a clear indication that he has now accepted President Emmerson Mnangagwa`s legitimacy and now understands that only dialogue will lead to national healing, peace and national building for prosperity.
Chamisa bragged that under what he is calling the “Second GNU,” Zimbabwe will prosper.
However, Manyewe castigated Chamisa for hastening to give conditions for the GNU. The MDC leader had said the two main parties would focus on electoral reforms which will lead to the restructuring of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) into a credible and independent commission.
During the anti-sanctions march in October, some opposition political parties participated save for the MDC.
Manyewe commented, “Chamisa is now succumbing to pressure from everywhere even his deputies because sanctions are hitting hardest in the urban areas where most of the MDC supporters are domiciled. The party’s National Standing Committee and some elected members are also pushing for dialogue.
“The elected members of the MDC know that they stand a chance of getting ministerial positions, whether under ED or Chamisa. To them the difference is the same. All they want is to get Government positions soonest before 2023 elections,” he said.
“When Chamisa went to German last week, he implored the German Government to exert pressure on President Mnangagwa to come to the negotiating table. He even pleaded with the German government to volunteer to mediate between the two political parties,” said Manyewe.
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki, who arrived in the country yesterday and had talks with President Mnangagwa and Chamisa separately, is alleged to have convinced Chamisa to accept dialogue with President Mnangagwa.
Of late Chamisa has dropped some demands for dialogue to take off. The pressure he is getting from within the party is too much and he feels that Zanu PF and President Mnangagwa are a better alliance than his Deputy Tendai Biti whose popularity is growing by each day.
