|
Back to Index
This article participates on the following special index pages:
2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles
Simba Makoni joins the presidential race in Zimbabwe - Index of Articles
Makoni
launches his 'vision' for Zimbabwe
Lance Guma, SW Radio Africa
February 13, 2008
http://www.swradioafrica.com/news130208/maklaunch130208.htm
Former finance minister
Simba Makoni on Wednesday his launched campaign manifesto by pledging
to, 'undertake immediate and urgent tasks to resolve the food,
power, fuel, water and sanitation problems' affecting the
country. He promised to deal with the black market by removing distortions
in the economy and restoring the autonomy of the central bank as
a regulator free from political interference. Makoni was quick to
tap into demands for a new constitution that have been made by opposition
and civil groups up to now. He said he would initiate a process
that would result in a, 'people driven national constitution.'
He also said the country needed to re-engage the international community
and implement business friendly economic policies to resuscitate
the crumbling economy.
Makoni used the press
conference to invite Zanu PF candidates who lost in controversial
primary elections across the country to come and join him. He urged
party members who, 'share our yearning for renewal,'
to 'jump off the fence, climb out of your false comfort zone'
and make decisions. Many expected the former SADC executive secretary
to announce the names of the Zanu PF bigwigs who are allegedly supporting
his candidature, but he again refused to disclose their names. Speculation
is already growing that Makoni and his backers are trying to trigger
an internal rebellion within Zanu PF, but have so far failed. A
politburo meeting that included some of those linked to him, even
endorsed his expulsion this week. Makoni meanwhile dismissed his
expulsion from Zanu PF saying he was not losing any sleep over it.
Commenting on widely
held predictions that the elections would not be free and fair Makoni
said, 'the only confidence I have is the conviction of the
rightness of our cause. I have confidence that the people of Zimbabwe
yearn for change, and that they will ensure for themselves a free
and fair election.' He urged Zimbabweans abroad to come back
home if they could and change the country. Turning his attention
to the controversial land reform exercise Makoni said land was a
'resource for empowerment and an asset for income generation
and not a sentimental thing or an asset of our historical struggle.'
He pledged to ensure an equitable land reform programme and restore
property rights.
Although Makoni
and his camp have declared they are a political party, they have
not yet said what they are calling themselves. All journalists saw
was a banner of a rising sun and the theme 'New Dawn/Mavambo/Kusile.
Pedzisai Ruhanya from the Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition attended Makoni's press conference
and described it as 'content free.' He says the former
finance minister concentrated more on rhetoric than giving substance
to the issues he raised. He also accused the former finance minister
of dodging questions on transitional issues to do with justice for
victims of Mugabe's rights abuses, saying he was clearly still
Zanu PF and scared of offending his colleagues.
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
