Political commentators who spoke to the Daily News on Sunday believe that there are hardliners within both ZANU PF and the MDC who are not inclined to dialogue between the two parties.
University of Zimbabwe Political Science lecturer, Eldred Masunungure said:
There are indeed hardliners and soft-liners in the two parties. The hardliners in Zanu PF view Chamisa as someone who cannot be trusted.
The MDC … has also taken a hardline stance by rejecting the win by Mnangagwa, and as long as that view holds … there will likely not be any dialogue.
Another political commentator, Maxwell Saungweme opined that Chamisa and his lieutenants fear co-optation. He said:
Chamisa and those around him may fear that they may lose legitimacy … by being co-opted into government, and that the MDC will lose its opposition space to new parties that may emerge.
… for Mnangagwa and his team, their fears could be around Chamisa currying favour with the military once he is in, say, a unity government, or the fear that some elements in Zanu PF will say Mnangagwa atengesa (he has sold out).