Hold talks to set conditions for elections says Mzembi
Former Foreign Affairs Minister Walter Mzembi says there is a need for national dialogue to set conditions for peaceful elections ahead of 2023.
Zimbabwe is scheduled to hold general elections in 2023, which will mark the beginning of the second term for President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
According to the Zimbabwe constitution adopted in 2013, Presidents are supposed to serve only two terms, however, Mnangagwa is on record telling his supporters that he will be there beyond 2030.
The elections in Zimbabwe are also expected to test the strength of the newly formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) which did relatively well during the March by-elections.
However, there are expectations that the 2023 elections might be accompanied by violent activities such as those experienced in 2008.
Already, several opposition activists and members have been attacked by suspected Zanu PF supporters across the country.
Zanu PF also claims that some of its supporters were attacked by CCC members.
The government through Minister Kirsty Coventry is working on modalities to reintroduce the National Youth Service, whose graduates were previously used to instill fear in citizens during the time of the late Robert Mugabe.
Writing on Twitter, Walter Mzembi said there must be dialogue to chart the pre and post-election situation.
‘’Elections in Zimbabwe in the national interest must be preceded by national dialogue on minimum conditions for peaceful elections, cure toxic past, and set the stage for post-election take off in 2023.
‘’Ready to champion this initiative. It needs neutrality,’’ he said.
Mzembi is not the only person who has spoken about the need for dialogue.
The church is also on record pushing for an all-inclusive dialogue, but their efforts were shot down by Zanu PF which believes all talks must happen through Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD).
New Patriotic Front (NPF) leader Tendai Peter Munyanduri advised Nelson Chamisa (CCC) that he should institute his own version of POLAD. It however remains to be seen if the talks will materialize or not.
Hold talks to set conditions for elections says Mzembi
