Opposition parties say Mnangagwa’s proposed all-party indaba should be a meeting of equals

Leaders of opposition political parties have set pre-conditions to attend the all political parties indaba which has been proposed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa ahead of the harmonised elections.

Addressing church leaders yesterday, President Mnangagwa said that he is going to convene an all political parties meeting with his counterparts, a message he has expressed at several other platforms.

Opposition political parties, however, say their attendance at the indaba will be determined by a number of factors chief among them being that the President invites them in his capacity as the leader of the ruling party not as the President of the country.

Coalition of Democrats Zimbabwe (CODE) president, Elton Mangoma, said they should all be on equal footing with President Mnangagwa attending the indaba only as the president of ZANU-PF.

Gift Nyandoro, the spokesperson for the National People Party led by former Vice President Joice Mujuru, said his party will only attend if invited and only after seeing the agenda of the meeting.

MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa, said that his party needs a special invitation as it commands significant support and cannot be grouped.

The pre-conditions set by the opposition parties cast a dark shadow on the holding of the indaba which would provide an ideal platform for dialogue key in holding a credible, free, fair, violence free and peaceful election that President Mnangagwa has promised.

Zimbabwe is due to hold harmonised elections in July or August.

There are an estimated 75 political parties that say they want to contest the elections.

Zimbabwe’s opposition parties have been talking about forming a grand coalition to contest ZANU-PF but so far without success.

A new political party which reportedly has the blessing of former President Robert Mugabe has also joined the fray and has already announced its presidential candidate.

There are currently three major coalitions, CODE, the People’s Rainbow Coalition and the MDC Alliance.- ZBC/Own

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