POLITICAL negotiations in Zimbabwe will continue to be held under the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) and former South African President Thabo Mbeki has not imposed that talks be held outside this platform, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

Following Mbeki’s visit, there has been widespread speculation that the former South Africa President, who led negotiations for Zimbabwe’s Government of National Unity in 2009, will bring President Mnangagwa and Chamisa to the negotiating table under a new platform.

Speaking to journalists after delivering his Unity Day message at State House on Saturday, President Mnangagwa said Mbeki had not advocated talks outside Polad.

“He (Mr Mbeki) never pushed for talks when he met me. We are very old friends, indeed he discussed the political situation in the country and I explained to him that with regard to dialogue, we have a platform where every political party freely can come into that platform including MDC under Chamisa.”

Asked if there was a chance of meeting Chamisa under any other platform, the President responded: “That (Polad) is the only platform where political dialogue will take place.”

Polad was launched in May this year and is convened by the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission, chaired by retired Justice Selo Nare.