Jane Mlambo| Leading poll watchdog, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has heightened calls for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to rope in opposition leader Nelson Chamisa in the national dialogue if the country is to entertain hopes of proffering lasting solutions to the current economic challenges facing the country.
In a statement yesterday, ZESN also called for the inclusion of parties which participated in the July 2018 harmonised elections as well as other electoral stakeholders including civil society, churches, the media, women and persons with disabilities.
“The network also notes that some political parties which participated in the harmonised elections are not participating in the political dialogue raising issues around the legitimacy of the dialogue, which issues, in our view, merit consideration by the conveners of the dialogue, so that no political player is left out.
“ZESN reiterates its position that the dialogue must be inclusive of all electoral stakeholders namely civic society organisations, churches, the media, women, persons with disability, and youths among others,” said ZESN.
The elections lobby group urged government to make use of the Mothlante Commission recommendations that there be a multi-party reconciliation initiative with national and international mediation to address post election problems that continue to haunt Zimbabwe.
“The Motlanthe Commission into the 1 August shootings recommended the establishment of a multi-party reconciliation initiative, including youth representatives, with national and international mediation to address the root causes of the post-election violence.”
Though ZESN acknowledged the establishment of an inter-ministerial task-force to address recommendations and issues raised by the various election observer missions as well as the Motlanthe Commission, it raised concern that government was reluctant on implementing the recommendations.
ZESN recommended that the national dialogue results in an Electoral and Political Reforms Taskforce or a Working Group comprising of Parliament, institutions supporting democracy, political parties, CSOs and faith based organisations and other key stakeholders to closely monitor the timeous implementation of recommendations proffered by local, regional, and international election observers ahead of the 2023 elections.