NKOSANA MOYO a former government minister and backer of Zimbabwe’s presidential candidate, Simba Makoni, has predicted a united front in a possible run off in the crucial presidential ballot on Saturday.
Speaking in South Africa ahead of the presidential poll pitting president Mugabe against opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) president, Morgan Tsvangirai, independent candidates, Simba Makoni and unknown Langton Towungana, Moyo said the rival opposition camps would form a united front against President Robert Mugabe. "It's an automatic. Zimbabweans would like to see an end to Mugabe's mismanagement, so any configuration that leads to a run-off will see Mugabe on one side and everybody else on the other," he said adding that there was an understanding with Tsvangirai's MDC on forming a national unity government. President Mugabe is facing a challenge on the ballot from Makoni and old rival, Tsvangirai.
Both accuse Mugabe of wrecking the once prosperous African country but have so far dismissed talk of a coalition. Moyo, who is also Makoni's national campaign coordinator, said they would join forces if Mugabe fails to win the outright majority he needs to avoid a second round. He said the lack of media coverage of the opposition campaigns, a flurry of late voter registrations and the failure of election authorities to properly educate Zimbabweans were concerns that could mar the polls.
Makoni, expelled from the ruling Zanu PF party last month, and Tsvangirai, have promised to tackle the economic crisis marked by chronic food and fuel shortages and inflation of more than 100 000 percent. Mugabe has boasted during the campaign that the opposition MDC will never be in power as long as he is alive and told Al Jazeera on Tuesday that he was "overconfident" of winning the election.
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READER OPINIONS
Arthur Gwagwa • arthurgwagwa@yahoo.com Subject: Why unite after the elections Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:44:33 • The opposition squandered the opportunity to unite before the elections and why would they talk of uniting after the elections? Talking about uniting is one thing but how the united front will work in practice is another thing. Who will lead the united front? Is Morgan going to give way for Makoni given that he labelled him old wine already? Instead of being proactive, the opposition is being reactive. It might sound corny but as the old saying goes, if you fail to prepare you are preparing to fail. Failures live their lives reactively but those who succeed live proactively!
Dambudzo Makonese • dambudzomakonese@gmail.com Subject: MAKONI I RESPECT YOU Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:12:52 • I have been following your publications and messages for the past month ,to be honest im impressed you are the leader that we are looking for who will rescue our country from the jaws of Mugabe s regime . I am voting for you and will stand by you werever i am may god continue to give you strength in times like this .Hail king and live longer .
mukuwasha • mutorwa Subject: mukuwashamutorwa@yahoo.com Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:43:01 • Is being 'over-confident' the same as over-rating one's chances? If so, I couldn't possibly agree with President Mugabe more about his chances in the forthcoming elections.
n/a • n/a Subject: n/a Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:25:58 • Good thinking this one - mature politics at its best.
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