Makoni: I'm nobody's tool
07/02/2008 22:11  - (SA)  

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Harare - Zimbabwe's former finance minister and presidential aspirant Simba Makoni on Thursday scoffed at claims he is a stooge of western governments and that he has been expelled from the ruling party.

Makoni said he had received "overwhelming support from Zimbabweans across the board" since he announced his plans on Tuesday to challenge veteran ruler Robert Mugabe for the presidency at national elections on March 29.

During a news conference in Harare, Makoni said he was saddened by "misrepresentations" that followed his announcement.

"The first misrepresentation is that this is an externally-induced move by hostile western governments," Makoni said.

"I am saddened by our lack of ability to handle diversity of ideas and views. I am saddened by the fact that we characterise any different ideas from ours and their holders as antagonistic and foreign.

"This attempt to present this effort on our part as not original, not indigenous and not ours is typical and characteristic of the way the leadership of our country has failed to handle diversity."

"Let me declare here that I am genuine, I am honest, I am nobody's tool or agent. I am Simba Makoni, have always been and will forever be the same."

He also denied suggestions that he was a Zanu-PF agent deployed to divide the opposition vote and a claim by a cabinet minister that he had effectively expelled himself from the ruling party.

Makoni urged fellow members of the Zimbabwe African National Union -Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) not to be intimidated.

"I plan to continue my function as a member of the party until I am excluded by due process," he said.

"I also want to urge those many others in Zanu-PF who have been and are still working with us to remain steadfast and not be intimidated."

Makoni, a key member of Mugabe's ruling party, said he decided to stand for the presidency "following very extensive and intensive consultations with party members and activists countrywide and also with others outside the party..."

Mugabe, who has ruled the former British colony since independence in 1980, is hoping to secure a sixth term at a time when Zimbabwe is struggling with an annual inflation rate of around 26 000%, the highest in the world.

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