ZBC

Zanu PF party has dismissed calls by MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa for one-on-one dialogue with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, telling the opposition politician to join the POLAD process.

In a statement Friday, Zanu PF acting spokesman Patrick Chinamasa said the party had taken note of indications by Chamisa that he was ready for exclusive one-on-one dialogue with President Mnangagwa.

Chinamasa said the ruling party was committed to the inclusive Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) process established by President Mnangagwa after the 2018 elections.

“The POLAD dialogue process which is in motion is inclusive of all political players and must be supported by sober thinking Zimbabweans,” said Chinamasa.

“The party (Zanu PF) therefore has no time to entertain calls for exclusive dialogue processes that are being demanded by some political players who think dialogue is meant to resurrect their waning political fortunes.

“We dismiss the demand by Mr. Chamisa and his political grouping in which he is insisting on a one-on-one dialogue with President Mnangagwa exclusive of other players.”

Chinamasa insisted that President Mnangagwa’s commitment to dialogue was not a sign of weakness and warned the opposition against issuing empty violence threats.

“… the President’s call for dialogue is not an act of cowardice or a sign of weakness as some have been tempted to think. Rather it is a gesture of statesmanship, inclusivity, and maturity,” Cde Chinamasa.

He added; “… We advise that issuing empty threats of violence or setting unbridled conditionalities to an ongoing inclusive dialogue framework will not be tolerated.

“The party reaffirms its support for the POLAD process and calls upon Mr. Chamisa and like-minded political leaders to join the POLAD dialogue framework.”