Makoni gets more backing
03/03/2008 08:52  - (SA)  

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Harare - Two more political heavyweights have rallied behind former finance minister Simba Makoni's presidential bid on Sunday, as he seeks to unseat long-time leader Robert Mugabe in elections later this month.

Wilson Kumbula, president of the opposition Zimbabwe African National Union - Ndonga (Zanu-Ndonga), endorsed Makoni's candidature, while Edgar Tekere, a former minister in Mugabe's first cabinet, vowed to work with him.

"I am appointing myself principal campaigner for Mugabe's downfall," Tekere said at Makoni's campaign rally in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare.

The statement of Tekere, an ex-commander during the liberation struggle, came a day after former home affairs minister Dumiso Dabengwa and former speaker of parliament Cyril Ndebele endorsed Makoni.

Kumbula was also present at the rally, where Makoni thanked them for their backing.

Mugabe hopes to secure 6th term

He said: "We have support of many in Zanu-PF, many in the MDC and many others who are not affiliated to any political party. We don't want to put each other in compartments saying we belong to this or this that group."

He was referring to the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union -Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Mugabe, who had ruled the former British colony since independence in 1980, was hoping to secure a sixth term as Zimbabwe struggled with an annual inflation rate hovering above 100 000%, the highest in the world.

Addressing thousands of his supporters at the rally at a football pitch on Sunday, Makoni again bemoaned his country's economic meltdown under Mugabe.

Makoni said: "Our factories used to have 24-hour shifts, farmers used to produce day and night, foreign currency was available in abundance and one could simply walk into a bank and buy any currency.

"Shops are full of dust because there is nothing on the shelves. Factories are working less than eight hours a day and workers have been reduced to vendors."

Makoni, a former key member of Mugabe's Zanu-PF, announced in early February he was challenging him in the March 29 poll.

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