Mbeki Backs Zim Political Dialogue

Zimbabwe’s Political Actors Dialogue is gaining traction at home and in the SADC region. Some political parties that had pulled out of the dialogue are coming back to be re-admitted into the discussions. Former South African President Thabo Mbeki has added his voice to the on going dialogue, saying that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is correct in convening the national dialogue.

He said President Mnangagwa has set a good example for fellow African countries and called on the main oppostition MDC to join the dialogue.

Addressing members of the Political Actors Dialogue, (POLAD) at state house last Friday, President Mnangagwa reiterated the importance of unity and collaboration among political actors in the quest for a prosperous Zimbabwe. This was the first POLAD meeting since the dialogue was launched on May 17.

President Mnangagwa urged all interested parties to collectively work towards dialogue-centred nation-building efforts. He welcomed the support of international development partners such as the EU and UNDP in helping to revive the Zimbabwean economy. He went on to explain that although the Transitional Stabilisation Programme is a robust roadmap, it cannot solve all economic problems facing the country. He said government is open to input from all citizens and stakeholders towards improving the economy and emphasized the need to protect citizens’ earnings, creating safety nets for the vulnerable in Zimbabwe.