Chamisa explains what his trip to the United States was all about

I am so delighted to be on this hugely beneficial trip. We are on this vital global advocacy and diplomatic engagement program to give Zimbabweans a fighting chance in the crucial and landmark 2018 general elections. This trip is about you and me and the future of our children and generations to come.

Our successful meetings are high level with the State Department, Congress, Global Business figures and US Civil Society. I’m with Mr Tendai Biti after Prof Welshman Ncube failed to make the trip since he had to deal with a sudden family tragedy.

This trip is the best platform for Zimbabwe‘ s restoration and reintegration efforts. Judging from our engagements thus far, Zimbabwe has phenomenal goodwill and an exceptional opportunity to rebound as an economic giant.

As a people, we cannot afford to squander this merited goodwill through partisan and petty party political sandpit arguments, which have no material benefit to our people.

This trip comes as a continuation of diplomatic outreaches already under way focusing on SADC and the AU. Our overall persuasion and perspective is to state and restate our case for credible, free and fair elections in Zimbabwe, elections whose results are not contested.

I saw and read a false message that this trip was about sanctions. Far from it, the trip has all to do with our take on free and fair elections in Zimbabwe and our post-election reconstruction plan.

As a matter of record, we are not here purporting to be representing government or the ruling party, we are representing all genuine peace-loving, freedom-craving and progressive Zimbabweans.

The objectives of the trip are as follows:

1. A push for a successful transition to a democratic order through Campaign restore legitimacy and democracy -stating a case for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe

2. Advocacy for political and electoral reforms conducive for free and fair elections.

-A credible voters roll

-an independent audit of the BVR

-a forensic audit of the ballot and all voting materials

-having all parties to collectively agree on the ballot printing company and such procurement

-mandatory diaspora vote in line with the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the SADC guidelines

-mandatory international observation

-A fully independent ZEC including professional and non partisan ZEC secretariat.

-equal access to the public media

– a stop and cessation of all forms of political violence and harassment

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