Chamisa 'More Than Willing' To Be Part Of POLAD
The MDC led by Advocate Nelson Chamisa has seemingly softened its stance towards President Emmerson Mnangagwa-initiated dialogue, the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD).
The POLAD dialogue process involves Mnangagwa and about a dozen and a half losing presidential candidates in the July 2018 elections.
The MDC has over the past several months consistently expressed its aversion towards the dialogue.
However, while addressing journalists in Harare on Tuesday, newly-appointed party spokesperson Daniel Molokele said the MDC is more than willing to be a part of the dialogue process. He said:
The MDC is more than willing to be part of that national dialogue process but our first and foremost important condition is that President Mnangagwa is part of the problem.
He might have invited some of the losers but he cannot be the facilitator.
Meanwhile, Molekele said that there is a need to involve an independent facilitator who could be a foreigner or a local, provided that he or she is agreeable to all parties. He added:
There is a need for an independent facilitator. It can be a person we compromise or agree with or an international person or even a local person.
But we need a facilitated process in which Zanu PF, MDC, all other political parties, all other stakeholders in the country, the business community or the captains of industry, civil society and everyone else who has a stake in this country’s future, is invited to the table.
Mnangagwa has in the past, called on all the political parties to take part in the dialogue process, and those willing to do so should approach the convenors.
The South African ambassador, as well as former President Thabo Mbeki, has suggested that it is prudent that an impartial facilitator should be the convenor.
