Zimbabwe’s aspiring independent presidential candidate, Simba Makoni remains tight-lipped on his backers whom he claims are in the ruling ZANU PF party.

Simba Makoni Not Opening Up On His Zanu PF Allies.

Sources say a lot of people especially political figures, private organizations and the media have since pressed Makoni to reveal his backers within ZANU PF.

“Makoni seems to be relaxed on that matter. He is not saying much concerning that issue.”

“However, the politicians rallying behind him are believed to be ruling party bigwigs,” said the source.

The nomination court sits Friday 15th February 2008 to accept candidates for the harmonized March 29 presidential and parliamentary elections.

At his manifesto launch, the former Finance Minister urged ZANU PF members who crave for renewal to contest the election as independent candidates under his banner.

Makoni’s election proposal is mainly centered on economic and constitutional reform.

On the front of the document appears the rising sun accompanied by the slogan, Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn. The main text reads, “Simba Makoni, President 2008, Independent Candidate.”

The source says if Makoni names his backers within the ruling party, this will be a nightmare for President Mugabe as this will reveal more cracks within the ruling party.

“Everything is possible, at the moment. Factions already exist within ZANU PF and the resignation from the party by more key members to compete in the elections either as independent candidates could give the nation some hope,” he said.

Makoni indicates the time for making a decision has come and people who have for long suffered should stand up and not pretend as if things are alright.

A Harare-based political analyst says it is very important that Makoni names his backers as this is important to many in deciding whether his split from the ruling party is ‘real’.

“It’s either Makoni names them or the ZANU PF members have to come out in the open, if they are serious in effecting a regime change in the country by challenging Mugabe in the election,” he said.

Simba Makoni, announced his interest to compete for presidency last week. He maintained that he was still a ZANU PF member until the politburo kicked him out of the party. Since 2003, he was reported as being favored by some in ZANU PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), as well as African mediators, as a potential replacement for Mugabe.

Makoni was appointed as Deputy Minister of Agriculture at independence in 1980 and subsequently served as Minister of Energy. He was later the Executive Director of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and eventually returned to the cabinet when he was appointed Minister of Finance in 2000 to 2002. He faced strong economic opposition as his policies reportedly contradicted those of the rest of the ZANU PF party.

After supporting the devaluation of the Zimbabwean dollar, a policy that was not favored by Mugabe, he was replaced by Herbert Murerwa in the cabinet named in August 2002.

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