- Title: ZIMBABWE: Former ally to challenge Mugabe in Zimbabwe poll
- Date: 12th February 2008
- Summary: (AD1) HARARE, ZIMBABWE (RECENT) (REUTERS) ZIMBABWE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SIMBA MAKONI WALKING INTO ROOM MAKONI SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SIMBA MAKONI SAYING: "I want to say to you here and ask you to help me give this to the people of Zimbabwe, that I am genuine, I am honest, I am real, I am Simba Makoni, I am nobody's tool and I am nobody's agent." VIEW OF PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SIMBA MAKONI SAYING: "All those Zimbabweans who yearn for the restoration of genuine national restoration, the hallmarks of our independence, all those Zimbabweans who long for us to take our proper place in the region and in the global village, I urge you to come forward now." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SIMBA MAKONI SAYING: "I wish to encourage those others in ZANU-PF, those many others in ZANU-PF who have been and are still working with us in this project for national renewal to remain steadfast and not to be intimidated, for the dawn of a new beginning is upon us." JOURNALISTS VIEW OF FORMER ZIMBABWE MINISTER OF INFORMATION JONATHAN MOYO (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER ZIMBABWE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, JONATHAN MOYO, SAYING: "Clearly Simba Makoni does have a comparative advantage of crossover appeal, his brand as Simba Makoni appeals across the political divide as a name in good political currency." MAKONI TALKING TO JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER ZIMBABWE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, JONATHAN MOYO, SAYING: "The coming of Simba Makoni has indeed confused a lot of people, some people don't even know which way to take, whether to vote for Simba Makoni, ZANU-PF or MDC itself." (SOUNDBITE) (English) RIGHTS ACTIVIST, GLADYS HLATSHWAYO, SAYING: "The emergency of Simba Makoni is suspicious because there are some statements that Makoni said that are actually dubious so to say, to say that he still remains loyal to the party, which to us from a civil society perspective, what we are fighting in this country is the system, the system that is presided by Robert Mugabe." (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER MINISTER OF INFORMATION, JONATHAN MOYO, SAYING: "He has said, or suggested that there are some big wigs in ZANU-PF who are going to follow him in good time, well we have to see how long that good time is, but we have to be cautious because big wigs never follow small wigs, it's usual the other way around, if there are bigwigs who have taken a stand against Mugabe, then they are supposed to be the first out of the door, not the last, so does he have what it takes, it remains to be seen." MAKONI WALKING AWAY
- Embargoed: 27th February 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Zimbabwe
- Country: Zimbabwe
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA7KGZBJ4M37X37YR4L0XODAQ83
- Story Text: Former Finance Minister Simba Makoni reaffirms his decision to stand against Robert Mugabe despite his recent expulsion from the ruling ZANU-PF party.
As Zimbabwe's election draws near, President Robert Mugabe may be facing the biggest challenge bred from within his party, ZANU-PF, in 20 years.
Former finance minister and senior ZANU-PF member Simba Makoni is popular with the business community and urban voters disenchanted with Mugabe and the main opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
"I want to say to you here and ask you to help me give this to the people of Zimbabwe, that I am genuine, I am honest, I am real, I am Simba Makoni, I am nobody's tool and I am nobody's agent," Makoni, who turns 58 on March 26, told a news conference.
Zimbabwe's privately owned media has reported that Makoni is backed by a faction led by retired army general and member of the ruling ZANU-PF party's top decision-making body, Solomon Mujuru. He is also married to Vice President Joyce Mujuru.
Makoni said he had consulted party members and activists across Zimbabwe before making his decision.
"All those Zimbabweans who yearn for the restoration of genuine national restoration, the hallmarks of our independence, all those Zimbabweans who long for us to take our proper place in the region and in the global village, I urge you to come forward now," Makoni continued.
Despite economic turmoil, 83-year-old Mugabe had been expected to win the March 29 election against a weak and divided opposition.
Makoni will run as an independent because, according to ZANU-PF rules, he has been automatically expelled from the party.
"I wish to encourage those others in ZANU-PF, those many others in ZANU-PF who have been and are still working with us in this project for national renewal to remain steadfast and not to be intimidated, for the dawn of a new beginning is upon us," Makoni added.
Analysts say shortages of food, foreign currency, fuel and and the world's highest inflation rate officially pegged at 26,000 percent present the biggest challenge to Mugabe's rule.
But the opposition has failed to capitalise on his failure to rescue the economy, once one of Africa's most promising. It is unclear whether daily hardship will push Zimbabweans to support Makoni.
"Clearly Simba Makoni does have a comparative advantage of crossover appeal, his brand as Simba Makoni appeals across the political divide as a name in good political currency," said Jonathan Moyo, the country's former Minister of Education and current independent Member of Parliament. "The coming of Simba Makoni has indeed confused a lot of people, some people don't even know which way to take, whether to vote for Simba Makoni, ZANU-PF or MDC itself," he continued.
"The emergency of Simba Makoni is suspicious because there are some statements that Makoni said that are actually dubious so to say, to say that he still remains loyal to the party, which to us from a civil society perspective, what we are fighting in this country is the system, the system that is presided by Robert Mugabe," countered Gladys Hlatshwayo, a rights activist.
Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, is seeking another five-year term and has vowed to achieve a landslide victory in the polls to silence the opposition and shame Western foes he says are sponsoring rivals to oust him.
Media has speculated that other party stalwarts might break away to field a candidate at the election. Makoni said he was backed by several ZANU-PF officials, whose names would be revealed this week.
"He has said, or suggested that there are some big wigs in ZANU-PF who are going to follow him in good time, well we have to see how long that good time is, but we have to be cautious because big wigs never follow small wigs, it's usual the other way around, if there are bigwigs who have taken a stand against Mugabe, then they are supposed to be the first out of the door, not the last, so does he have what it takes, it remains to be seen," Moyo added.
Mugabe has a history of tough crackdowns on both the opposition and party officials who challenge him. Critics say he has also tightened his grip with an elaborate patronage system.
For years, Makoni -- who is regarded as a reform-minded technocrat -- has been touted as a possible successor to Mugabe.
But critics say he is a political lightweight who does not have the stamina to fight one of Africa's most combative leaders.
Unlike Mugabe, Makoni has suggested engaging Western powers to ease Zimbabwe's economic hardship. In 2000, when Makoni became finance minister, he pledged tighter fiscal discipline to restore relations with donors. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
