MDC draws line in the sand

10 CONDITIONS: AHEAD OF POLITICAL DIALOGUE WITH STATE, OPPOSITION SENDS ITS AGENDA

Mnangagwa expected to attend to help find solutions to Zimbabwe problems.

Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)-Alliance has laid out its conditions for political dialogue with the government after receiving an invitation from President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the two sides attempt to resolve the country’s worsening economic crisis.

“The MDC believes in genuine and sincere dialogue that ultimately must benefit the people of Zimbabwe,” said MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s chief-of-staff, Sessel Zvizvai.

“We also believe that national dialogue is part of the unfinished liberation struggle agenda.”

The statement was posted a day after Chamisa snubbed talks called for by Mnangagwa on Wednesday. However, 12 other politicians who contested last year’s disputed elections met the embattled president.

Zvizvai said for any genuine dialogue to be successful, it needed to be facilitated by an independent regional arbiter such as the Southern African Development Community, with African Union or United Nations guarantees.

The MDC’s 10 conditions for dialogue included the immediate cessation of all forms of violence including rape, killings, torture, shootings and abductions, as well as a genuine and transparent process to bring to book those responsible for killing, maiming and raping defenceless citizens.

Restoring and guaranteeing the security of all citizens and immediately stopping arbitrary arrests, mass trials and all violations of the rule of law was imperative, said the MDC.

The independence of the judiciary, with guarantees, must be supported by the cessation of all executive interference with judicial processes. Restoring law and order and ending malicious prosecutions and the miscarriage of justice is also essential, it said.