By Shongedzai Mugwagwa

President Emmerson Mnangagwa was impressed by the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) sub committees’ reports presented during the plenary meeting held today, at the State House, the Harare Post can report.

Addressing the media after a closed door meeting, President Mnangagwa said the meeting gave an opportunity for the six Polad sub committees to give their feedback on the thematic areas.

President Mnangagwa gave a brief report presented by the Committee on Economic Affairs in the country which he said managed to bring together captains of industry.

“There is the Economic Committee. They did a sterling job as they hosted the economic forum and managed to bring together captains of industry and interested stakeholders,” said President Mnangagwa.

On the Committee on Governance, the President said that a report was given by the chairperson, Professor Lovemore Madhuku.

 “Professor Madhuku’s issues were clustered into process of Constitutional amendment and the contents of the amendments. There are areas where they were not in agreement with Government but the report was well received as it represents their views,” he added.

Given the mantra of the new dispensation of re-engagement and engaging in new relations for trade purposes, President Mnangagwa applauded the International relations committee which he said was successful in meeting several embassies from both the continent and abroad.

“The International relations committee did a fantastic job. I was not aware that they managed to meet several embassies. It was reported that they have intentions to go on a diplomatic offensive approach but because of the pandemic Coronavirus, their intentions were put on halt until they are cleared,” he added.

Coronavirus was this week declared a pandemic virus by the World Health Organisation (WHO) after its tentacles had reached almost all corners of the world, with the leading day death toll standing at around 200 in Italy.

In conclusion, the President noted with dismay the behaviour of the local media which he said was very unpatriotic. He further said that the national healing and peace building committee noted that the local media was more negative when reporting about local issues.

The committee implored the media to be more patriotic in their reports. The committee also noted that political parties need to be more civilised and avoid inciting its members to engage in violence.

As President Mnangagwa’s administration moves to liberalise the political field, dialogue is part of wider efforts to cement national healing and nation-building.

Previous meetings have agreed that both political and economic reforms should be implemented while politically-motivated violence should be shunned. Other salient issues such as the continued imposition of sanctions on the country by the West rallied the Zimbabwean leaders.