By Daniel Itai, Harare, Zimbabwe.
(News of The South) – The ongoing Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) is seemingly not producing the same results with regards to the ruling party’s first secretary, Emmerson Mnangagwa and the main opposition party leader Nelson Chamisa.
Former South African President, Thabo Mbeki was recently in the country where he met Mnangagwa and Chamisa on separate occasions in relation to the socioeconomic and political situations that are hovering in the country.
“Everybody is interested to discuss and I am interested too in the situation. Basically, we support the efforts of Zimbabweans to address their fundamental challenges whatever the challenges, so we have been listening to everybody.
I have a lot of confidence in the leadership of this country, the collective leadership of this country coming together as they have done in the past and there is a lot of capacity, lots and lots of capacity to resolve all of these problems, all of the reforms whether they are political or economic I think it is possible,” said Mbeki.
Mnangagwa also expressed his optimism towards the future of Zimbabwe, “our policies have created problems, but we are certain of where we are going. To achieve our goal we have to take measures which are painful, but it will pass and everyone will be happy. Nothing comes cheaply. Things are going to improve.”
However, Chamisa had his own views that are different from Mbeki and Mnangagwa. “We want dialogue that is meaningful, where the political will to change for the benefit of Zimbabweans outweighs political expediency. Dialogue must deliver true change and real reforms. When we shake hands let us be agreeing to truly walk in the same direction, a new direction.
Democracy can’t exist without a true commitment to happiness, freedom and peace. Our political impasse cannot continue. We stand firm on the principle that none but ourselves can bring about the true change we need. Real issues affecting us all must be at the heart of any dialogue.”
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