Retired army generals Solomon Mujuru and Vitalis Zvinavashe are reportedly going to campaign for independent presidential candidate Simba Makoni, in a bid to oust Robert Mugabe from power.A source close to Zvinavashe, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces' second commander after Mujuru, told us he was ready to throw his full weight behind Makoni. The retired general has publicly voiced his concern on several occasions about the state of the country's political and economic situation.
Addressing a meeting in Gutu, Masvingo province in December last year, Zvinavashe openly castigated Mugabe for staying in power too long, suggesting it was time he passed on the baton to someone else. 'Everyone in Zanu-PF knows Zvinavashe's position on Mugabe and he's also on public record for criticising Zanu-PF legislators for not telling people the truth about the critical food shortages in the country,' added the source.
Makoni's right hand man at the moment is retired army Major, Kudzai Mbudzi, a close confidante of Zvinavashe. When visiting his home area of Masvingo, Zvinavashe is usually in the company of Mbudzi, a former spokesman for Zanu-PF in the province. He was suspended from the party in October last year for his refusal to organise the 'million man march' in Masvingo in support of Mugabe.