By Own Correspondent- The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) has met with various key stakeholders to initiate the planning process for a national dialogue.

NPRC chairman Justice Selo Masole Nare said the initiation of the planning process was held in terms of its mandate as provided for in Section 252 (d) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (Number 20) of 2013.

Justice Nare said the process also aimed at creating space for national conversations aimed at achieving social, economic and political transformation.

The commission said it had met Government officials, traditional leaders, churches, arts and cultural organisations, civil society, business, academia, persons with disabilities, women and youth, among others.

Speaking at a press conference in Harare Thursday, the NPRC chairman Justice Nare said:

“The objective of the meeting was to jointly develop a framework for a comprehensive dialogue. While the NPRC has set the creation of dialogue platforms as a key activity in its strategic plan, the events of the past few weeks have made it imperative to move with speed to create a space for national conversations towards social, economic and political transformation.

In an effort to come up with a framework for national dialogue, conversations were centred around the following key questions; Why are Zimbabweans not talking? What are the key pillars of national dialogue? Who should participate, how and at what level? How should a dialogue process be structured? What does a successful dialogue look like?

The meeting noted the need to address immediate issues as well as putting in place medium and long-term plans for dialogue. The commission will refine the contributions made today and come up with a framework that will be shared with all stakeholders.”-StateMedia