‘POLAD to remain in place’

Farirai Machivenyika

Senior Reporter

The Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) launched in 2019 and brought together political parties that contested the 2018 harmonised elections to discuss issues affecting the country was an appropriate platform for Zimbabweans to come together will remain in place after this year’s elections, President Mnangagwa has said.

The President on Monday told a press conference to announce the new Cabinet following his victory in the just ended August 23 elections that the platform was designed as a vibrant forum through which parties proffer solutions to the challenges that confront the nation, through peaceful, open and transparent discourse.

Seventeen political parties were represented in the inaugural POLAD platform.

“The POLAD platform was extremely useful, it was platform where other political parties who participated in the 2018 general elections did not make it and through the POLAD platform we were able to interact and exchange views across the board, on the entire framework of Government, and we were able to discuss without limitation.

“I thought it was a very good platform for Zimbabweans to come together and share. I think this platform will continue so that all the political parties that contested will come on board and we will continue the practice, it was very helpful from my point of view as President,” President Mnangagwa said.

The President however, said he had no plans to enter into a coalition Government with the opposition since he had won the mandate from Zimbabweans and had a large Parliamentary majority.

“It is true that if the President wants to do that, form a coalition Government, he will do it. And if he doesn’t want, and he has a majority, there’s no need to do it. I am in the category of those who don’t want to do it because I have a huge majority and I think the opposition will enjoy being in actual opposition rather than to be included in Government and so fail to do their opposition,” he added.

In his remarks, during the launch in 2019, President Mnangagwa said the culture of dialogue must be synonymous with Zimbabwe and should improve the country’s democratic practices and culture.

President Mnangagwa retained the country’s presidency after he garnered 2 350 711 votes which translates to 52,6 percent of the vote beating his nearest challenger, CCC’s Nelson Chamisa who got 1 967 343 or 44 percent of the vote.

In the National Assembly Zanu PF won 176 seats to the 103 of the CCC after the 60 proportional representation women’s seats were declared along with the 10 special youth seats.

After winning 136 of the 210 constituencies, Zanu PF won 33 of the 60 proportional representation women’s seats and seven of the 10 youth seats while CCC won 73 constituency seats and then picked up 27 of the women’s seats and three youth seats.

A by-election will be held at a date to be announced in Gutu West after one of the candidates died before the elections on August 23.