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New political party led by Makoni & Mandaza dismissed as a farce
Tererai Karimakwenda, SW Radio Africa
January 11, 2008

http://www.swradioafrica.com/news110108/newparty110108.htm

A report in the Independent newspaper on Friday that a new splinter party from ZANU-PF will next week announce a candidate to run against Mugabe in the elections, has created a buzz in political circles. The idea has mostly been dismissed as a joke by commentators. The report said former Finance Minister Simba Makoni will be stand against Robert Mugabe in the polls currently scheduled for March. Others allegedly involved in the project are the former ZANU-PF permanent secretary and academic Ibbo Mandaza, war veteran Wilfred Mhanda and retired army Major Kudzai Mbudzi.

The Independent quoted "impeccable sources" who said the Makoni group is to launch its election campaign next week. One of the sources was quoted as saying: "The Makoni camp wants to recapture the presidency of Zanu PF, that was stolen by Mugabe through manipulation of the party's formal structures to endorse him as the candidate at the extraordinary congress last December."

Political commentator and University of Zimbabwe lecturer Dr. John Makumbe laughed hysterically when asked to comment. He described the development as "the joke of the year that we didn't expect so soon," then explained further that Makoni and Mandaza have no grassroots support whatsoever on the ground. Regarding suggestions that this may be a ploy by Mugabe to split the vote, the outspoken Professor said this would be unwise, because the votes that would be split would be those of the ruling party and not the opposition.

Makumbe warned that the whole story may turn out to be fictitious and a creation of the Central Intelligence Organisation, intended to distract the public and confuse voters. The idea may also be to present Mugabe as facing real challengers, in order to legitimize the elections if the MDC does not participate. As it stands both formations of the MDC have said that they will not take part in the polls unless Robert Mugabe implements the changes agreed to at the SADC mediated talks in South Africa.

The first week of March is only 7 weeks away and civil groups in the country insist there is not enough time to hold free and fair elections in such a short time. Makumbe said this is partly why the formation of a new party at this stage suggests that it is a joke. "They don't even have enough time to print T-shirts," he said.

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