If he lives that long. B
Shock challenge to Mugabe rule February 6, 2008 - 7:08AM The AGE Some analysts say Simba Makoni's decision could unite President Mugabe's opponents. Some analysts say Simba Makoni's decision could unite President Mugabe's opponents. Photo: AFP Advertisement A senior member of Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe's Government says he will challenge the African strongman for the presidency in an election next month. Simba Makoni, a senior member of Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF, said today he would run as an independent in the biggest challenge to Mr Mugabe from within his party in 20 years. A former finance minister, Mr Makoni, is popular with the business community and urban voters disenchanted with Mr Mugabe and the main opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Zimbabwe's privately owned media has reported that Mr 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. Mr Makoni said he had consulted party members and activists across Zimbabwe before making his decision. Despite economic turmoil, 83-year-old Mr Mugabe had been expected to win the March 29 election against a weak and divided opposition. Mr Makoni will run as an independent because, according to ZANU-PF rules, he will be automatically expelled from the party. "This is a major political development in that it confirms the fractures within ZANU-PF and it will enter this election divided," said political commentator Eldred Masunungure. The political fallout may become clearer after ZANU-PF holds a politburo meeting due in the next few days. Analysts say shortages of food, foreign currency, fuel and and the world's highest inflation rate officially pegged at 26,000% present the biggest challenge to Mr 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 Mr Makoni. 'I am not alone' Mr Makoni, a member of ZANU-PF's top decision-making body, said he and an overwhelming majority of party members were disappointed that a December congress had failed to change the party's leadership. "I have accepted the call and hereby advise the people of Zimbabwe that I offer myself as a candidate for the office of president of Zimbabwe in the forthcoming elections," Mr Makoni, who turns 58 on March 26, told a news conference. Mr 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. Journalists has speculated that other party stalwarts might break away to field a candidate at the election. Mr Makoni said he was backed by several ZANU-PF officials, whose names would be revealed next week. "I know I will not be in this campaign alone, there will be many of us, a great many of us in this campaign," Mr Makoni said. Mr Makoni said he met Mr Mugabe last week and discussed reports he planned to lead a breakaway faction. He did not elaborate. Mr 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. In 1989, he swiftly expelled then ruling party secretary general Edgar Tekere after he had challenged his leadership. For years, Mr Makoni -- who is regarded as a reform-minded technocrat -- has been touted as a possible successor to Mr 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 Mr Mugabe, Mr Makoni has suggested engaging Western powers to ease Zimbabwe's economic hardship. In 2000, when Mr Makoni became finance minister, he pledged tighter fiscal discipline to restore relations with donors. REUTERS . <http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=11648958/grpspId=1705447214/msgI d=54883/stime=1202251989/nc1=3848607/nc2=5028925/nc3=3848640> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
