South African opposition party Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane visited the Zimbabwe embassy in Pretoria on Thursday, to push for dialogue with President Mnangagwa over massive human rights abuses blamed on security forces during the recent crackdown on protests.
He said he expects a response to his letter to President Mnangagwa in 48 hours. Maimane said he will be travelling to Zimbabwe next week to meet government officials, civil society, opposition parties and labour representatives. He did not meet Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa, David Hamadziripi, during his visit. Maimane was accompanied by Stevens Mokgalapa, a Member of Parliament and the party’s shadow minister of international relations. Said Maimane:
They [embassy officials] have given me assurance that they will deliver the letter to the Zimbabwean presidency. I expect a response within the next 48 hours to see when we go from this point, so that we can take safe, responsible action to restore democracy in Zimbabwe.
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