THE MDC Alliance is hopeful that South African envoys will be able to nudge President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zanu PF to finally hold much-needed dialogue with the opposition and other key stakeholders to end Zimbabwe’s decades-old political crisis.

So hopeful is the Alliance, that it was apparently persuaded not to escalate its grievances against Mnangagwa and the government to the just ended 40th Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) — which was held virtually.

This comes as President Cyril Ramaphosa is trying to end Zimbabwe’s worsening political and economic crises, which have once again attracted international attention — following the government’s alleged breach of human rights in the country during last month’s foiled protests.

It also comes as Mnangagwa, who ascended to power via a popular military coup in November 2017, has come under growing pressure from long suffering Zimbabweans over his government’s failure to mend the country’s broken economy.

Now, ahead of the planned return to Harare by Ramaphosa’s special envoys — former South African vice president Baleka Mbete and ex-ministers Sydney Mufamadi and Ngoako Ramatlhodi — the MDC Alliance says it is hopeful that this will result in positive engagements.-Daily News