Jane Mlambo| Church leaders have defended President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s no-show at yesterday’s prayer meeting saying his letter indicated that he will send a representative should he fail to make it.

Zimbabwe  Council Of Churches (ZCC) secretary general Reverend Kenneth Mtata said Mnangagwa had indicated that he will attend the indaba but included a line that said a delegate will stand for him should he fail to come.

“We did not receive a formal communication on why the President didn’t come but it was clearly stated in the letter which we received from the President’s office which said that if he fails to come he will send a delegate to represent him,” said Mtata in an exclusive interview with The Zim Morning Post.

Yesterday, opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa blasted Mnangagwa over his no-show at what he described as a neutral platform.

Chamisa had earlier bunked a meeting at State House which was attended by 21 losing Presidential candidates citing the venue and a host of conditions that he said should be met to allow proper dialogue to proceed.