CHIREDZI – MDC leader Nelson Chamisa called for a transitional government on Sunday, saying President Emmerson Mnangagwa had “legality” but lacked “legitimacy”.
Chamisa told thousands of cheering supporters in Chiredzi that Mnangagwa had no solutions to an economic crisis gripping the country, warning that Zimbabwe was now under a “dark cloud” which required intervention by the SADC and the African Union to bring warring parties together.
The MDC holds its congress from 24 to 26 May, and Chamisa said he would be giving direction on how he intends to bring pressure to bear on Mnangagwa’s regime.
“For us as a way forward, after congress we must kill and deal with issue of legitimacy. Mnangagwa was not voted by the people, but was imposed by the Constitutional Court, and we were voted by the people,” Chamisa said.
“We need to mix the ConCourt decision and the wishes of the people – legality and legitimacy. We must negotiate and dialogue on that. We need a transitional mechanism to fix this country. Something like CODESA (Convention for a Democratic South Africa); to say we have come from elections and we have a stand-off: those imposed by a court and those elected by the people.”
Chamisa last Friday boycotted the launch of a political dialogue convened by Mnangagwa, and attended by over a dozen leaders of smaller parties.
The MDC has called for an outside mediator to lead the dialogue, whose outcomes should be underwritten by regional body SADC and the African Union.
Chamisa says Mnangagwa should realise that his dispute is with the MDC, which is challenging his legitimacy claiming he rigged an election last July before securing the backing of the ConCourt.
“He (Mnangagwa) will come to the negotiating table, kicking and screaming,” Chamisa said, hinting that the MDC planned nationwide shutdowns after their congress to turn up the heat on Mnangagwa.
He said the MDC wanted a transitional administration which would focus on economic transformation and pushing through critical political and electoral reforms to ensure greater transparency in the 2023 elections.
“If we don’t fix the economy, we’re not going anywhere. We told them long back that if you want to go forward, kill the bond note and introduce the United States dollar. Good money follows good policies. Once you have a clean and hygienic house, money will come. Fix the hygiene of your economics, the rest will follow. That’s why we must resolve the political issues, because politics leads the economy,” he said at a “thank you” rally to thank supporters for voting for him last July.
He also invited regional countries to step in and force Mnangagwa to talk to the MDC, warning that ” a dark cloud is hanging over Zimbabwe”.
“Come and help us. Intervene so that we avert the spilling of blood. I say spilling of blood because the regime responds by killing people every time they face peaceful opposition.”
