As Zimbabwe’s economy continues to deteriorate, opposition leader Nelson Chamisa cranked up the political heat on President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his ruling Zanu PF yesterday — calling for the immediate establishment of a transitional authority to stabilise the country.
In a petition which the MDC handed over to Parliament and the presidency after thousands of
its supporters marched in Harare — which was copied to Sadc chairperson Hage Geingob of Namibia and African Union chairperson Paul Kagame of Rwanda — Chamisa said a transitional authority was the only viable route back to political legitimacy in the country.
The youthful politician also told his die-hard supporters who braved the deluge of rain that has been hammering the capital, that yesterday’s massive demonstration was a sign that long-
suffering Zimbabweans were desperate for an end to the country’s current political and economic crises.
This comes after Mnangagwa — speaking through his spokesperson George Charamba in an exclusive interview with the Daily News on
Wednesday, said he was open to talks with Chamisa, on the strict understanding that the
MDC leader recognised the president as the legitimate winner of the country’s hotly-disputed
July 30 election.
This, in turn, came after Chamisa and his key lieutenant Tendai Biti had earlier on Monday told the Commission of Inquiry probing the August 1 shootings in Harare — which left at least six civilians dead — that political dialogue was the
only solution to ending the country’s political and economic problems.
Addressing his supporters, who were protesting the falling standards of living in the country and the government’s recent unpopular economic revival measures, Chamisa also said Zimbabwe could not afford “one day longer” without addressing the worsening local political and
economic situation.
“Firstly, we are saying to Mnangagwa let’s have negotiations. You must come and sit down so that we can solve the current economic crisis.
“Zimbabweans are suffering. The crisis in the country is a crisis of governance, confidence, legitimacy and leadership. How can we solve
this?
“We are saying let us unite. On our side we have good leadership qualities and you lack leadership
qualities. So, we must unite and map the way

forward,” Chamisa told his exuberant supporters.Daily News