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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ex-ally to fight Mugabe in poll | Ex-ally to fight Mugabe in poll |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| A senior member of Zimbabwe's ruling party has said he will challenge President Robert Mugabe in 29 March polls as an independent candidate. | A senior member of Zimbabwe's ruling party has said he will challenge President Robert Mugabe in 29 March polls as an independent candidate. |
| "I offer myself as candidate for the office of president," former finance minister Simba Makoni told reporters. | "I offer myself as candidate for the office of president," former finance minister Simba Makoni told reporters. |
| He is seen as coming from the moderate wing of the Zanu-PF but does not have a strong grass-roots support base. | He is seen as coming from the moderate wing of the Zanu-PF but does not have a strong grass-roots support base. |
| The two opposition Movement for Democratic Change factions are each fielding candidates in the election. | The two opposition Movement for Democratic Change factions are each fielding candidates in the election. |
| In its December congress, Zanu-PF endorsed Mr Mugabe as its presidential candidate in the 29 March election, despite speculation that he would face a challenge from within his party. | In its December congress, Zanu-PF endorsed Mr Mugabe as its presidential candidate in the 29 March election, despite speculation that he would face a challenge from within his party. |
| Other senior party officials than Mr Makoni had been seen as Mr Mugabe's most likely challengers, but none of them has challenged Zimbabwe's long-time leader in public. | Other senior party officials than Mr Makoni had been seen as Mr Mugabe's most likely challengers, but none of them has challenged Zimbabwe's long-time leader in public. |
| 'Anguish' | |
| Mr Makoni, 57, said he would have liked to contest the election on behalf of Zanu-PF but also blamed its leaders for Zimbabwe's economic crisis. | |
| PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES Robert Mugabe, Zanu-PFMorgan Tsvangirai, MDCArthur Mutambara, MDCSimba Makoni, Independent | |
| "I share the agony and anguish of all citizens over the extreme hardships that we all have endured for nearly 10 years now," he said. | |
| "I also share the widely held view that these hardships are a result of failure of national leadership and that change at that level is a pre-requisite for change at other levels of national endeavour." | |
| Mr Makoni has been mentioned as a possible compromise candidate between different Zanu-PF factions and even the opposition for many years. | Mr Makoni has been mentioned as a possible compromise candidate between different Zanu-PF factions and even the opposition for many years. |
| After being sacked as finance minister in 2002, over policy differences with Mr Mugabe, he moved to South Africa. | After being sacked as finance minister in 2002, over policy differences with Mr Mugabe, he moved to South Africa. |
| The MDC had insisted on a new constitution before the elections, as well as guarantees they would be free and fair. | The MDC had insisted on a new constitution before the elections, as well as guarantees they would be free and fair. |
| Previous polls have been characterised by violence and allegations of fraud. | Previous polls have been characterised by violence and allegations of fraud. |
| Zimbabwe has the world's highest annual rate of inflation - 26,000% - and only an estimated one adult in five has a job. | Zimbabwe has the world's highest annual rate of inflation - 26,000% - and only an estimated one adult in five has a job. |
| Mr Mugabe's critics blame the economic crisis on his policies, especially the seizure of white-owned farms. | Mr Mugabe's critics blame the economic crisis on his policies, especially the seizure of white-owned farms. |
| He blames a western plot to bring him down. | He blames a western plot to bring him down. |