Aspiring presidential candidate Simba Makoni has been formally expelled from the ruling Zanu PF party, spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira has said.

Simba Makoni, who has decided to stand as a Zanu PF candidate, stands automatically expelled from the party, ” said Shamuyarira. He said the decision to expel Makoni was reached by majority consensus by the Politburo, the supreme body of the party, which met in the capital Monday.

Long touted as a likely candidate for the highest office in the land, Makoni has insisted he remained a member of Zanu PF arguing there is no clause in the party constitution which renders him expelled.

In the case of Simba Makoni, ” Shamuyarira said, “Zanu PF held its extraordinary congress in Harare from 12 - 14 December 2007 after giving two months notice to all the provinces about the event of the extraordinary congress and the agenda thereto.

Neither Simba Makoni nor Manicaland province forwarded his name for consideration for party candidacy for State president.”

Announcing his candidature last week, Makoni said: “Let me affirm here, my faith and loyalty to the party (Zanu PF). I would very much have wished to stand as its official candidate. Unfortunately, as we all know, that opportunity was denied to any other cadre who would have offered themselves to serve the party and country.”

His decision to carry on is seen as likely to split the anti-Mugabe vote and increase the re-election prospects of the octogenarian president who is seeking a sixth term in office. Mugabe turns 84 next week.

Makoni is leading a charge by senior Zanu PF officials who claim that Mugabe subverted the Zanu PF constitution by blocking any challenges to his leadership at Decembers’ extra-ordinary congress.

Maroni’s decision to challenge Mugabe has exposed huge cracks within Zanu-PF, a situation that has virtually thrown into turmoil the ruling party’s campaign for next March’s elections.

Makoni is expected to unveil his campaign programme tomorrow (Wednesday). He is expected to reveal some of the high-profile personalities behind his initiative.

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