Former South African president Thabo Mbeki has said President Emmerson Mnangagwa must open up his political parties dialogue to include main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.

Mbeki was speaking on South Africa’s SABC News last week, where he said the desire for a Zimbabwean dialogue was a good move by both Mnangagwa and Chamisa to solve a disputed election and is a good example for fellow African countries.

Mbeki said Mnangagwa must agree with the MDC proposal to have a mediator in the talks over the current situation where he is running the show himself.

‘‘So, I’m saying that something should happen because what President Mnangagwa has done is correct and I’m saying MDC agrees in principle to this, so let them find a way together because you go through the courts as happened in Zimbabwe and as happening in Malawi to resolve whatever are the contested things, but after that you must address this matter,’’ he said.

Mr Mbeki — who is no stranger to Zimbabwean affairs having mediated the inter-party dialogue that led to the formation of the inclusive Government in 2009 blasted Mnangagwa’s stance that he won the elections and was declared by the constitutional court as not enough ground for him to manipulate the dialogue process.

“For us we are trying to develop our countries, you need maximum unity to address a number of challenges, so it can’t be enough that I won the election and was declared by the constitutional court that’s it,” he said. “So, I’m saying the initiative such as has been taken in Zimbabwe is correct and I hope the Zimbabweans will indeed be able to get together including the MDC.

“The MDC must be part of that process, it’s important as a continent that we deal with this matter.”

Watch Mbeki speak: