Zimbabwe churches step in to broker dialogue after opposition snubs Mnangagwa talks
Country is clearly hurting, angry and traumatised says Ecumenical Church Leaders' Forum bishop and MDC leader endorses their intervention
Harare — Zimbabwe’s churches on Thursday sought to broker talks between the government and its opponents over a political and economic crisis they said had left the country “angry and traumatised” after the main opposition snubbed a meeting with the president. The country had hoped to shake off its divided past after a 2017 coup forced longtime leader Robert Mugabe from power, but 2018’s disputed election won by President Emmerson Mnangagwa only deepened political rifts. A security crackdown on post-election bloodshed in August and another one in January against violent protests has critics saying that under Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe is revisiting the authoritarianism that was the hallmark of Mugabe’s regime. Mnangagwa skipped Thursday’s meeting after initially indicating he would attend. He was represented by defence minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri. Main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, politicians from smaller parties, diplomats, business leaders and several cabinet ministers attende...
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