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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Zimbabwe party backs ex-minister | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| One of Zimbabwe's two main opposition factions has backed former Finance Minister Simba Makoni for the 29 March presidential elections. | |
| Faction leader Arthur Mutambara endorsed Simba Makoni, saying he had "shown courage, by standing up to" President Robert Mugabe. | |
| Mr Mugabe is seeking re-election, while veteran opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai also filed his papers. | |
| A BBC correspondent says the news will boost Mr Makoni's campaign. | |
| Political parties must submit their lists of candidates for March's presidential and parliamentary elections by the end of Friday. | Political parties must submit their lists of candidates for March's presidential and parliamentary elections by the end of Friday. |
| Economy | Economy |
| Mr Mutambara and his supporters are backing Mr Makoni's presidential challenge, but the MDC Mutambara grouping will field their own candidates in the parliamentary, senate and local elections. | |
| We're very confident of victory, 99.9% confident" Zanu-PF's Emmerson Mnangagwa Mr Makoni was expelled by the ruling Zanu-PF party after he announced his candidacy last week. | |
| At his manifesto launch he described Zimbabwe as a "a sad nation, full of fear... a polarised nation in deep stress, and one characterised by disease and extreme poverty". | At his manifesto launch he described Zimbabwe as a "a sad nation, full of fear... a polarised nation in deep stress, and one characterised by disease and extreme poverty". |
| He said that defined the work to be done and he would start a process of reconciliation. | He said that defined the work to be done and he would start a process of reconciliation. |
| Earlier this week, Mr Tsvangirai confirmed his faction would contest in the polls, despite an "uneven playing field". | |
| The MDC had been calling for a new constitution before the elections. | The MDC had been calling for a new constitution before the elections. |
| Previous polls have been characterised by violence and allegations of fraud. | |
| Mr Tsvangirai also welcomed Mr Makoni to the opposition ranks, but pointed out that the former finance minister had been a member of Zanu-PF's politburo while the Zimbabwean economy had been destroyed. | Mr Tsvangirai also welcomed Mr Makoni to the opposition ranks, but pointed out that the former finance minister had been a member of Zanu-PF's politburo while the Zimbabwean economy had been destroyed. |
| The country has the world's highest inflation rate - 66,000% - and only an estimated one adult in five has a job. | The country has the world's highest inflation rate - 66,000% - and only an estimated one adult in five has a job. |
| Mr Mugabe, who turns 84 next week, is seeking a sixth term in office and told state media this week he is "raring to go" in the polls. | Mr Mugabe, who turns 84 next week, is seeking a sixth term in office and told state media this week he is "raring to go" in the polls. |
| "We're very confident of victory, 99.9% confident," Emmerson Mnangagwa, the rural affairs minister, is quoted by Reuters news agency as saying after filing Mr Mugabe's papers. | "We're very confident of victory, 99.9% confident," Emmerson Mnangagwa, the rural affairs minister, is quoted by Reuters news agency as saying after filing Mr Mugabe's papers. |
| The BBC's Peter Biles says Mr Mugabe is certain to secure votes in many rural areas. | |
| Mr Tsvangirai has support in urban centres and Mr Makoni's backing is - as yet - untested, he says. |