There could finally be light at the end of tunnel for long suffering Zimbabweans, after it emerged yesterday that President Emmerson Mnangagwa and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa are indirectly engaging each other in talks aimed at ending the country’s decades-long political and economic crisis.

As Zimbabwe’s economy continues to deteriorate, Chamisa cranked up the political heat on President Mnangagwa and his ruling Zanu-PF – calling for the immediate establishment of a transitional authority to stabilise the country.

In a petition which the MDC handed over to Parliament and the presidency after thousands of its supporters marched in Harare – which was copied to Sadc chairperson Hage Geingob of Namibia and African Union chairperson Paul Kagame of Rwanda – Chamisa said a transitional authority was the only viable route back to political legitimacy in the country.

The youthful politician also told his die-hard supporters who braved the deluge of rain that has been hammering the capital, that yesterday’s massive demonstration was a sign that long-suffering Zimbabweans were desperate for an end to the country’s current political and economic crises.

This comes after Mnangagwa – speaking through his spokesperson George Charamba in an exclusive interview with the Daily News, said he was open to talks with Chamisa, on the strict understanding that the MDC leader recognised the president as the legitimate winner of the country’s hotly-disputed July 30 election.

This, in turn, came after Chamisa and his key lieutenant Tendai Biti had earlier on Monday told the Commission of Inquiry probing the August 1 shootings in Harare – which left at least six civilians dead – that political dialogue was the only solution to ending the country’s political and economic problems.

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