By Own Correspondent| Zanu-PF Secretary for Legal Affairs Paul Mangwana has denied statements by opposition MDC’s Nelson Chamisa that Morgan Tsvangirai died a bitter man after the ruling party reneged on a deal to co-opt him into President Mnangagwa’s Government.

Mangwana said there were no discussions of a  National Transitional Authority or GNU with Tsvangirai.

Said Mangwana:

Never in our discussions did the issue of a National Transitional Authority or GNU come up from either side. Furthermore, Zanu-PF had resolved that former president Robert Mugabe would be removed through constitutional means and be replaced according to the dictates of that same Constitution, which has no provisions for a Transitional Authority or a GNU. 

There was no direct communication between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the late MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, in the days leading to the resignation of former president Mugabe. In my capacity then as Zanu-PF Deputy Secretary for Legal Affairs and Lovemore Matuke, in his capacity then as Zanu-PF Chief Whip, we were tasked with representing Zanu-PF in talks with the MDC-T in the processes regarding the former president’s impeachment.

We communicated with Douglas Mwonzora (the MDC-T secretary-general and my fellow COPAC co-chairperson) and Murisi Zwizwai (chief of staff) who served as representatives of the late Morgan Tsvangirai and his party.