HARARE – Zimbabwe’s main opposition led by Nelson Chamisa the MDC-A, is welcoming the appointment of special envoys to deal with the crisis in the country.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed former minister Sydney Mufamadi and former National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete to engage with parties in Zimbabwe.
MDC Deputy President, Tendai Biti, says they expect Ramaphosa’s team to be transparent.
This as outrage grows at the crackdown on critical voices in that country.
“We now look forward to the agenda and the mandate of the team that he (Ramaphosa) has appointed. The details have not been flashed out to us,” said Biti.
The MDC Alliance’s official statement issued by party Spokeswoman Fadzayi Mahere on Saturday said’ We welcomes the efforts by the region to intervene in the deepening governance and human rights crisis in Zimbabwe, particularly by His Excellency, Cyril Ramaphosa, who is the current Chairperson of the African Union.
“The crisis in Zimbabwe has been characterized by a de facto state of emergency, a crackdown on citizens, abductions, arbitrary arrests of government critics and the political persecution of journalists.
The statement goes on to say: “The region must take note of the collapse of the public health system characterised by an ongoing doctors’ and nurses’ strike amidst the Covidl9 pandemic, the economic crisis which has seen hyperinflation exceed 786% and a hunger crisis that has left 7,7 million Zimbabweans food insecure.”
“The Government in Harare is incapable of resolving these challenges because it lacks legitimacy,” the stament said.
“We are of the firm view that any solution to the ongoing socio-economic lies in resolving the political crisis and answering the outstanding legitimacy question. The deteriorating plight of the Zimbabwean people means that a political settlement is more urgent than before.
“We acknowledge the special envoy that has been deployed by President Cyril Ramaphosa and we will continuously assess the sincerity of all the actors in the process.
Writing on his twitter account; the Secretary-General of the MDC-T Douglas Mwonzora said; ‘We welcome the appointment of the special envoy to Zimbabwe”.
“Our approach in the impending discussion is to find a lasting solution to Zimbabwe’s problems. In this regard, we will be guided by what is in the best interest of Zimbabwe’s long suffering masses”.
