Mnangagwa calls for national dialogue, Chamisa regrets his offer has been spurned and mocked

Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has called for dialogue on several occasions but his call seems to be focussed on talks between him and Mnangagwa whom he has repeatedly said he does not recognise as the country’s President.

In a series of tweets this morning, Chamisa continued to pass the blame for lack of dialogue on Mnangagwa saying the hand he had offered for dialogue has been spurned and mocked.

The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front has insisted that Mnangagwa will only talk to Chamisa after he recognises him as the country’s legitimate President.

In his tweets this morning Chamisa said: “We must repair our value system and moral fibre to value human life. We need a morals revolution and values reset. Our laws mustn’t be abused. Why should a right to demonstrate be followed by flowing rivers of blood and tears? We can’t claim to love God without loving his people!

“No nation can make progress without the rule of law & peace. Zimbabwe can’t be open for anything without being open to its citizens’ concerns. In order to dialogue, one’s tongue must be free to talk. The tongues of the nation are tied in jails & many others by fear. This must end!

“Going forward, we must correct wrongs now. We call for an immediate end to the crackdown & terror that has induced insecurity across the country. We call for the unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience & political detainees whose rights continue to be violated

“When people die, we come together & mourn together. We console the bereaved & show compassion. Leaders console, comfort & apologise for wrongs that they have done. It is not the time for a catalogue of excuses, explanations or justifications. We must show respect to Zimbabweans.

“We have long offered a hand to resolve our national challenges. Regrettably this hand has been spurned and mocked. It is sad that some seem to have reluctantly come to this realisation following the loss of lives. It doesn’t have to be that way but such is the price of arrogance.

“We continue to mourn our lost relatives and empathise with the wounded and displaced fellow citizens. Our solution to the crisis requires sincerity, honesty and compassion for those we lead. It is not about lofty words or wordplay unsupported by conduct on the ground.”

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