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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Zim party official to challenge Mugabe |
| 2008-02-06 |
| A senior member of Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party, Simba Makoni, says he will run for president in the March 29 election in what could be the first major internal challenge to Robert Mugabe in 20 years. Mr Makoni said he decided to run following extensive consultations with party members and activists across Zimbabwe, where Mr Mugabe had been expected to win the election unchallenged by a weak and divided opposition. "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, a former finance minister, told a news conference. Speculation has been rife that some party stalwarts opposed to Mr Mugabe may launch a breakaway party this week to field a candidate for the poll. Mr Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, is seeking another five-year term after brushing off attempts from top officials in his governing ZANU-PF to force him to retire. Mr Mugabe has vowed to clinch a landslide victory to silence the opposition and shame Western foes he says are sponsoring his rivals to remove him from power. Critics say the veteran leader has ruined Zimbabwe through controversial policies such as the seizure of white-owned farms for blacks and lately plans to localise foreign-owned companies, including banks and mines. Mr Mugabe denies charges he has wrecked a once promising economy and blames former colonial ruler Britain for leading a Western onslaught against his government as punishment for the land seizures. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 Hope Mr. Makoni's will is made out. And everyone in his family as well (including the cat and the gerbil). |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2008-02-06 19:17 |
| #2 "...and there will be 1449 possible places he might be buried in." |
| Posted by: USN,Ret. 2008-02-06 14:30 |
| #1 Look for "Accidental Death" notices featuring Simba Makoni shortly. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2008-02-06 01:09 |