Prospects of a united front from Zimbabwe’s main opposition parties to challenge 84-year-old geriatric, President Robert Mugabe, hit a snag after Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai said there were fundamental differences between him and Makoni.
Speaking at a press conference in the capital Harare, where the opposition leader unveiled his party’s candidates for the March 29 harmonised elections, Tsvangirai said any hopes of waging a united front with Makoni against Zanu PF were in vain as Makoni still identifies himself with the ruling party. He said Makoni lacks the backing of the people.
“I am the leader of the MDC. Makoni is in Zanu PF. We belong to different formations. We are divided on fundamental differences. Makoni is still looking for a team. I already have a team here.”
Tsvangirai said his party would contest the election on their own. He however admitted he has high respect for Makoni but that differences keep them apart.
“I have high respect for Dr Makoni. Differences are fundamental. He says he is still Zanu PF. That is the difference.
‘I have the mandate of the people and I will not betray anyone. Dr Makoni has been part of the establishment for 30 years,”said Tsvangirai.
Makoni, a former Finance Minister in President Robert Mugabe’s government made public his presidential bid at a press conference in Harare last Tuesday. He said he ‘remains loyal to Zanu PF’ but that he felt the party needed new leadership. Makoni recently told the South African media that Zimbabwe needs a “new political environment” if the economy is to get out of the mud it is currently in.
The former minister who has since been disowned by Zanu PF has the backing of senior party members in Zanu PF and outside the party.
Zimbabwe will hold synchronised presidential, senatorial, parliamentary and local government on March 29.
