In an interview yesterday, Deputy Chief Secretary in the President’s Office, Mr George Charamba, said the decision to take political dialogue to the Sherwood was made after the POLAD negotiators nominated the venue.

Further, it was agreed that a tour of the farm encourages productivity among all Zimbabweans regardless of political affiliation.

Said Mr Charamba: “It was a request made by POLAD members. The programme is very simple, a couple of hours of business and then another couple of hours touring the farm. So it is almost like a farmers’ field day after the serious business of talks.

“It does clinch the notion of productivity which has been the President’s watchword that we should work, work and work for our economy to grow.”