Zim unity talks inch closer

A day after snubbing an invite from Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa to set up a framework for dialogue‚ opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa attended a prayer meeting hosted by Zimbabwe Council of Churches in Harare.

Absent from that meeting was his arch-nemesis‚ Mnangagwa‚ who was represented by senior government officials.

Heightened political tensions and a worsening economic environment since the outcome of disputed polls held in July 2018 have resulted in increased calls for dialogue.

Zion Church leader Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi said Mnangagwa and Chamisa had to find each other and take the country forward, and the highly respected Bishop Ezekiel Guti said the two had to put the interests of Zimbabwe first.

Chamisa said he snubbed the invite from Mnangagwa because State House was not a neutral venue and a neutral arbitrator was needed.

“We need peace and unity. Mnangagwa and myself need to meet. As it is‚ my legislators can’t sleep and my people have been brutalised‚” he said. “If we are to dialogue‚ the church should lead this dialogue.”

We need peace and unity. Mnangagwa and myself need to meet