Citizens’ Cabinet Position on the NPRC Led Political Parties Dialogue

Position on the announced National Dialogue Meeting at State House tomorrow and Recommendations to those invited

The Office of the President has invited registered political parties to lay the ground for a “national” dialogue aimed at resolving the country’s multi crises. As the Citizens’ Cabinet we wish to express our dismay and disappointed at the brazen exclusion of key stakeholders of our society in such a crucial process.To start with the invitation is too precipitous. Recently we issued out a statement sharing our perspective on how the dialogue can be credible and fruitful. Some of the cardinal pillars for a credible and effective dialogue include Composition (inclusive national dialogue” – not a dialogue among presidential candidates); Competent facilitation (the president’s office cannot be a legitimate/credible/effective facilitator of a national dialogue – even to discuss the framework for dialogue – that’s the function of an independent credible and mutually acceptable Convener);and a level and conducive environment. Considering that the fate of the whole country is at stake, we cannot sit and watch as a minority in our society experiments with our livelihoods and our future. We thus caution the invited parties and the country at large and state that;

• Noting the invitation by President Mnangagwa to presidential candidates in the 2018 elections to a meeting to discuss the “Framework for national dialogue”.
• Encouraged to see the all-round acceptance of the need for national dialogue.
• Disappointed that the president’s precipitous invitation seems to be an attempt to preempt efforts towards genuine dialogue.
• Underscoring the civil society minimum conditions for National Dialogue that are already in the public domain, including the immediate release of political prisoners, the cessation of the current clampdown by the state and the return to barracks by the armed forces; and a full disclosure of the number of citizens killed so far, those injured, and the requisite action to deal with the perpetrators.
• Reiterating the need for an independent and credible Convener mutually acceptable to all for national dialogue to be meaningful (The President’s office cannot be the convener)
• Emphasizing that national dialogue must be an inclusive process that brings together all stakeholders beyond political parties / presidential candidates
• Accordingly, call on all those invited, through the note issued by Misheck Sibanda (on behalf of ED), to politely decline to attend the meeting while reiterating the minimum conditions for the National Dialogue.

Nothing for us without us! Sunungura Zimbabwe.

GoreRavanhu

UmnyakaKaZulu

Citizens’Cabinet Convener

The Citizens’ Cabinet

Convener and International Relations portfolio – Briggs Bomba
Deputy Convener and Finance and Economic Development portfolio (Official Spokesperson) – Janet Zhou
Chief Secretary – Ashlegh Pfunye

Portfolio Leads

Finance and Economic Development – Janet Zhou
Public Sector Innovation – Sakhile Sifelani
Informal Economy and SMEs Development – Michael Ndiweni
Mining, Natural Resources and Environment – Mutuso Dhliwayo
Education – Robson Chere
Public Infrastructure and Urban Development– Clever Bere
Arts, Heritage and Culture& Tourism – Butholezwe Kgosi Nyathi
Labour and Social Security – Naome Chakanya
Lands and Agriculture Development – To be announced
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs – Tafadzwa Mugabe
Gender Justice – Glanis Changachirere
Youth & Sports – Misheck Gondo
Media, Freedom of Expression and ICTs – Farai Sam Monro
Health – Rutendo Bonde
Social Cohesion and National Healing – To be announced Industry and Commerce –To be announced

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