HARARE – MDC leader Nelson Chamisa on Tuesday called for the creation of a “national transitional authority” to deal with a worsening economic crisis amid shortages of basic items such as drugs and fuel.

Chamisa, who narrowly lost July’s election, accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government of excessive borrowing and lacking ideas to solve Zimbabwe’s biggest economic crisis in a decade.

Chamisa also plans to go ahead with a rally on Saturday that party officials have indicated could include a mock “inauguration” in protest of the disputed vote.

Zanu PF legal secretary, Paul Mangwana, said dialogue with the opposition can only commence if Chamisa accepts Mnangagwa’s victory.

A fragile national unity government in 2009 helped pull the country out of economic crisis when hyperinflation reached 500 billion percent, according to the International Monetary Fund.

When asked what a “national transitional authority” would entail, Chamisa said it should be a “bottom-up” approach to involve citizens, churches and other stakeholders and that discussions would determine the nature of the government.

He said the ruling party and opposition had discussed the arrangement after former leader Robert Mugabe was forced out in November but “they reneged on that promise and chose the path of elections instead of a transitional authority.”

After Mugabe’s departure many in Zimbabwe had hoped the country would emerge from turmoil and return to prosperity. But that has turned into despair as public hospitals run out of drugs and private pharmacies, like many other businesses, close down while supermarkets ration items such as bottled water, cooking oil and beer.

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube on Tuesday said the government has suspended import controls on items ranging from cooking oil to bottled water to baked beans and shoe polish. Previously, only those with special licenses were allowed to import the items.

“The situation in the hospitals is so shocking,” Chamisa said. “Our hospitals are sick. Sick hospitals can’t attend to sick people. Our people are dying from preventable diseases such as cholera.”

At least 50 people have died of cholera since September.

“There is an absence of leadership. The nation is orphaned, the nation is parentless,” Chamisa said.

Chamisa, who once again repeated that Mnangagwa’s government was illegitimate and accused his rival of rigging his way to power, said he had met religious leaders who are pushing for a political dialogue between the opposition and the ruling Zanu PF.

“We are ready to discuss. The first thing is for this nation to go on a path of a political dialogue,” he said, adding that he would not be a fig leaf for Mnangagwa’s government.

“We will ultimately discuss and resolve our national issues as a country,” he said, “(but) we are not ready to be forced (to) legitimise the illegitimate.”

“Our people are suffering. This economic decay is common to all,” he said.