Simba Makoni

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From as early as 2003, was reported that Makoni was favoured by some in ZANU-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, as well as African mediators, as a potential replacement for Mugabe. [9] In January 2008, the BBC reported that Simba Makoni might be nominated to run against Mugabe in the March 2008 presidential election. [10] Makoni attempted to run in the concurrent 2008 parliamentary election as ZANU-PF's candidate for the House of Assembly from the constituency of Makoni Central, but he was barred from standing in the party primary (in which he would have faced then Justice Minister and current Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa); it was judged that he had submitted his curriculum vitae too late to qualify. [11]

On 5 February 2008, Simba Makoni held a press conference in Harare where he stated that he was challenging Robert Mugabe to become the next President of Zimbabwe. [2] Up to that point he had remained a member of the ZANU-PF Politburo and the party's Deputy Secretary of Economic Affairs. [12]

He told reporters, flanked by Ibo Mandaza and Retired Major Kudzai Mbudzi: [13]

"Following very extensive and intensive consultations with party members and activists countrywide, and also with others outside the party, I have accepted the call and hereby advise the people of Zimbabwe that I offer myself as candidate for the office of president...I share the agony and anguish of all citizens over the extreme hardships that we all have endured for nearly 10 years now...I also share the widely held view that these hardships are a result of failure of national leadership and that change at that level is a pre-requisite for change at other levels of national endeavour." [2]

Makoni said that he would have liked to run as ZANU-PF's candidate, but since he could not, he was running as an independent. [14] He later said that his conclusion that political change was necessary was not the result of a "St.-Paul-on-the-road-to-Damascus awakening. This has been a continuum, incremental, things have been building up." [15]

Joseph Chinotimba, a war veteran who led the violent invasions of white owned farms in 2000, threatened Makoni with violence following the announcement of his candidature. [16] A leading figure in ZANU-PF, Emmerson Mnangagwa, told ZBC TV that by choosing to stand for a position when the party had already chosen someone to stand for that position, Makoni had expelled himself from the party. The Herald newspaper denounced Makoni as being a pawn of the United Kingdom whose candidacy was being used in hopes of splitting the ZANU-PF vote so that Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) could win the election. [17]

Speaking on 7 February, Makoni denied claims that he was a Western pawn or that he was being used by ZANU-PF itself to split the opposition vote. He also said that the ZANU-PF constitution did not provide for self-expulsion and that still considered himself a member of ZANU-PF until and unless he is expelled from the party through due process. Referring to support he claims to have inside ZANU-PF, he urged these supporters to "remain steadfast and not be intimidated". [18] ZANU-PF spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira subsequently sought to clarify the matter by saying that Makoni was expelled from the party, in accordance with party rules providing for the expulsion of a member who challenges a designated ZANU-PF candidate in an election, and he said that anyone who supported Makoni would be expelled as well. Morgan Tsvangirai said on 11 February that Makoni was merely "old wine in a new bottle" and that he would not ally with Makoni for the election. [19]

Mugabe spoke about Makoni's candidacy for the first time on 21 February, describing it as "absolutely disgraceful", comparing Makoni to a prostitute, and criticising Makoni for what he considered a self-important attitude. [20] [21]

When Makoni announced his candidature, he stated that many in ZANU-PF particularly the political "heavyweights" would publicly announce their support for him. This triggered intense speculation that the vice-president's husband and retired army commander, Solomon Mujuru would declare his support for him. However, no such heavyweights came forward. [22] [23] However, the following notable endorsements were made:

Official results indicated that Makoni had received 8.3% of the vote, finishing third. [27] He endorsed Morgan Tsvangirai for the runoff. [28]

National Alliance for Democracy

Since the presidential elections, Makoni has several times indicated his intention to convert his Muvambo/Kusile/Dawn formation into a formal political party. On 22 July 2008, the formation's national management committee met and agreed to finalise the transformation of the project into a political party, to be known as the National Alliance for Democracy. [29]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Profile at campaign site Archived 5 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine .
  2. 1 2 3 Fanuel Jongwe, "Ex-minister takes on Mugabe" Archived 8 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine , AFP (The Times, South Africa), 5 February 2008.
  3. ↑ Sylvia Manika and Blessing Zulu, "Former Finance Minister Makoni Jumps Into Zimbabwe Presidential Race" Archived 13 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine , VOA News, 5 February 2008.
  4. 1 2 Basildon Peta, "Mugabe faces first real challenge as former minister launches bid to take presidency", The Independent (UK), 6 February 2008.
  5. ↑ Simba Makoni
  6. ↑ "Makoni left Sadc in 1993, three years after it was rocked by a $25 000 financial scam", allArica.com, 1 February 2008
  7. ↑ "Mugabe drops key men from new cabinet", Reuters (IOL), 15 July 2000.
  8. ↑ "Mugabe names new cabinet", Sapa-AFP (IOL), 25 August 2002.
  9. ↑ John Battersby, "Is Mugabe on the way out?", Saturday Star (IOL), 3 May 2003.
  10. ↑ "Mugabe faces rival inside party", BBC News, 14 January 2008 (accessed 7 February 2008).
  11. ↑ "Makoni humiliated as Zanu PF rejects his bid for MP" Archived 9 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine , newzimbabwe.com, 5 February 2008.
  12. ↑ Spiwe Ncube, "Zanu (PF) heavyweights lose primary polls" Archived 11 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine , zimdaily.com, 6 February 2008.
  13. ↑ Mbudzi warns CIO Archived 8 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ "Makoni: Mugabe's Waterloo", Daily News (South Africa), 7 February 2008, page 15.
  15. ↑ Peta Thornycroft, "Zimbabwe Presidential Candidate Says Nation Suffering Under Mugabe" Archived 5 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine , VOA News, 29 February 2008.
  16. ↑ The Herald "The Herald". Archived from the original on 9 February 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2008.(accessed 7 February 2008)
  17. ↑ "Makoni has expelled himself from Zanu PF– Mnangagwa" Archived 9 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine , AFP (newzimbabwe.com), 6 February 2008 (accessed 7 February 2008).
  18. ↑ "I am my own man, says determined Makoni", Reuters (IOL), 8 February 2008.
  19. ↑ "Mugabe rival expelled from party", BBC News, 12 February 2008.
  20. ↑ "Mugabe labels rebel former finance minister 'prostitute'" Archived 20 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine , AFP, 21 February 2008.
  21. ↑ Lebo Nkatazo, "Mugabe says Makoni 'worse than a prostitute'" Archived 29 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine , newzimbabwe.com, 21 February 2008.
  22. ↑ "journalists from both the local and international media were annoyed with Makoni’s campaign team for misleading them into believing that late retired General Solomon Mujuru, Ray Kaukonde and other Zanu PF heavyweights would publicly declare their support for Makoni", The Standard, 22 March 2008
  23. ↑ "Makoni camp suffers setback", Zimbabwe Independent, 20 March 2008
  24. ↑ Fikile Mapala, "Mutambara withdraws from race, backs Makoni" Archived 1 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine , newzimbabwe.com, 15 February 2008.
  25. ↑ "Rival wins key supporter", BBC News, 1 March 2008.
  26. ↑ "Ex- Zim Minister Confirms Backing Makoni, vying for Senatorial Seat" Archived 6 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine , The Zimbabwe Gazette, 4 March 2008
  27. ↑ (in English) "Zimbabwe announces poll results", BBC, 2 mai 2008
  28. ↑ Al Jazeera English – Africa – Q&A: Zimbabwe's election crisis
  29. ↑ "Zimbabwe: Makoni to launch Political Party" Archived 6 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine , The Zimbabwe Daily News, 25 July 2008
Doctor
Simbarashe Makoni
Minister of Finance and Economic Development of Zimbabwe
In office
July 2000 –August 2002
Southern Rhodesia (1923–1965)
Rhodesia and Nyasaland (1953–1963)
Rhodesia under UDI (1965–1979)
Zimbabwe Rhodesia under UDI (1979)
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