Simba Makoni
Template:Future election candidate
Dr. Simbarashe Makoni | |
|---|---|
| File:C:\Documents and Settings\test\My Documents\My Pictures Simba Makoni in 2008 | |
| Minister of Finance and Economic Development in Zimbabwe | |
| In office July 2000 – August 2002 | |
| President | Robert Mugabe |
| Vice President | Joseph Msika Joyce Mujuru |
| Succeeded by | Herbert Muchemwa Murerwa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | death_date + 22 March 1950  Southern Rhodesia |
| Died | death_date + |
| Resting place | death_date + |
| Nationality |  Zimbabwean |
| Political party |  ZANU-PF Until 2008 Simba Makoni Party 2008 onwards |
| Spouse | Chipo |
| Children | Takura Makoni Tonderai Makoni (Deceased) Tafara Makoni |
| Parent |
|
| Residence(s) | Zimbabwe, South Africa |
| Alma mater | Leeds University, Leicester Polytechnic, UK |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Chemist, Business consultant. |
| Website | http://www.smakoni.com/ |
| The website offers details of his campaign for the presidency | |
 |
|---|
Simbarashe Herbert Stanley Makoni (born March 22 1950[1]) is a Zimbabwean politician and a candidate for the March 2008 presidential election.[2][3] He was Minister of Finance and Economic Development in President Robert Mugabe's cabinet from 2000 to 2002. He faced strong opposition during the Economic Change in Zimbabwe in the early 2000s as his policies contradicted those of the rest of the ZANU-PF party.[4]
Background
Makoni trained as a chemist in the UK during the Second Chimurenga years. During his studies he represented the Zimbabwe African National Union in Europe. He earned his B.Sc. at Leeds University and a Ph.D. at Leicester Polytechnic in medicinal chemistry.He also owns a farm in Headlands. [5]
Political career
Post-independence
Makoni was appointed Deputy Minister of Agriculture at Zimbabwe's independence in 1980, when he was thirty years old.[1][4] In 1981, he was moved to the position of Minister of Industry and Energy Development, where he remained until 1983.[1] He was then elected as the Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), serving in that post for ten years; subsequently, he was Managing Director of Zimbabwe Newspapers from 1994 to 1997.[1]
He eventually returned to the Cabinet when he was appointed Minister of Finance by Mugabe on July 15 2000, following the June 2000 parliamentary election.[6] As Finance Minister, he supported the devaluation of the Zimbabwean dollar, a policy that was not favored by Mugabe, and he was replaced by Herbert Murerwa in the cabinet named on August 25 2002.[7] It was reported in 2003 that he was favored by some in ZANU-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, as well as African mediators, as a potential replacement for Mugabe.[8]
Presidential candidacy
In January 2008 the BBC reported that Simba Makoni might be nominated to run against Mugabe in the 2008 presidential election.[9]
On 5 February 2008 Simba Makoni held a press conference in Harare where he stated that he was challenging Robert Mugabe to become the next President of Zimbabwe.[2] Up to that point he had remained a member of the ZANU-PF Politburo[4] and the party's Secretary of Economic Affairs.[3]
He told reporters, flanked by Ibo Mandaza and Retired Major Kudzai Mbudzi[10]:
"Following very extensive and intensive consultations with party members and activists countrywide, and also with others outside the party, I have accepted the call and hereby advise the people of Zimbabwe that I offer myself as candidate for the office of president...I share the agony and anguish of all citizens over the extreme hardships that we all have endured for nearly 10 years now...I also share the widely held view that these hardships are a result of failure of national leadership and that change at that level is a pre-requisite for change at other levels of national endeavour."
— Makoni, [2]
Makoni said that he would have liked to run as ZANU-PF's candidate, but since he could not, he was running as an independent.[11] He later said that his conclusion that political change was necessary was not the result of a "St.-Paul-on-the-road-to-Damascus awakening. This has been a continuum, incremental, things have been building up."[12]
Joseph Chinotimba, a notorious war veteran who led the violent invasions of white owned farms in 2000, threatened Makoni with violence following the announcement of his candidature.[13] A leading figure in ZANU-PF, Emmerson Mnangagwa, told ZBC TV that by choosing to stand for a position when the party had already chosen someone to stand for that position, Makoni had expelled himself from the party. The Herald newspaper denounced Makoni as being a pawn of the United Kingdom whose candidacy was being used in hopes of splitting the ZANU-PF vote so that Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) could win the election.[14]
Speaking on February 7, Makoni denied claims that he was a Western pawn or that he was being used by ZANU-PF itself to split the opposition vote. He also said that the ZANU-PF constitution did not provide for self-expulsion and that still considered himself a member of ZANU-PF until and unless he is expelled from the party through due process. Referring to support he claims to have inside ZANU-PF, he urged these supporters to "remain steadfast and not be intimidated".[15] ZANU-PF spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira subsequently sought to clarify the matter by saying that Makoni was expelled from the party, in accordance with party rules providing for the expulsion of a member who challenges a designated ZANU-PF candidate in an election, and he said that anyone who supported Makoni would be expelled as well. Morgan Tsvangirai said on February 11 that Makoni was merely "old wine in a new bottle" and that he would not ally with Makoni for the election.[16]
Mugabe spoke about Makoni's candidacy for the first time on February 21, describing it as "absolutely disgraceful", comparing Makoni to a prostitute, and criticizing Makoni for what he considered a self-important attitude.[17][18]
Endorsements
When Makoni announced his candidature, he stated that many in ZANU-PF particularly the political "heavyweights" would publicly announce their support for him. This triggered intense speculation that the vice president's husband and retired army commander, Solomon Mujuru would declare his support for him. However, no such heavyweights came forward. [19] [20]
On February 15, Arthur Mutambara, the leader of another MDC faction not led by Tsvangirai, said that he would not run for President and that his faction would instead back Makoni.[21]
At the opening of Makoni's campaign on February 29, former Interior Minister Dumiso Dabengwa and former Speaker of Parliament Cyril Ndebele were present to support him.[22] Also present at White City hall where Makoni launched his campaign was Edgar Tekere who vowed to de-campaign Mugabe until election time.
Fay Chung the former Zimbabwe Minister of Education and Culture and currently an independent candidate in the March 2008 senatorial elections has also formally endorsed Makoni.[23]
Presidential Campaign of March 2008
Sanctions
Mr Makoni does not agree with the incumbent that Zimbabwe's economic downturn is caused by sanctions imposed by the west.
Makoni:
The Zimbabwe Democracy Bill or Act was not promulgated against the people of Zimbabwe, it was promulgated against... [interrupted]
Muchechetere:
But it's hurting the people of Zimbabwe. Your own people, the ones you say you want to lead.
Makoni:
No no no you receiving lies about that. [interrupted]
Muchechetere:
No no but we are feeling it everywhere. [interrupted]
Makoni:
No no president Mugabe is lying. The Zimbabwe Democracy Bill was targeted at leadership that's corrupt.
— Makoni interviewed by Happison Muchechetere the ZTV election program aired on March 27th 2008
Controversy
Officers investigating a $25,000 scam that rocked SADC in 1993, implicated Makoni. He accepted full responsibility for this. [24]
See also
- Solomon Mujuru
- Arthur Mutambara
- Edgar Tekere
- Jonathan Moyo
- Fay Chung
- Robert Mugabe
- Morgan Tsvangirai
References
- ^ a b c d Profile at campaign site.
- ^ a b c Fanuel Jongwe, "Ex-minister takes on Mugabe", AFP (The Times, South Africa), February 5, 2008.
- ^ a b Sylvia Manika and Blessing Zulu, "Former Finance Minister Makoni Jumps Into Zimbabwe Presidential Race", VOA News, February 5, 2008.
- ^ a b c Basildon Peta, "Mugabe faces first real challenge as former minister launches bid to take presidency", The Independent (UK), February 6, 2008.
- ^ Simba Makoni [1]
- ^ "Mugabe drops key men from new cabinet", Reuters (IOL), July 15, 2000.
- ^ "Mugabe names new cabinet", Sapa-AFP (IOL), August 25, 2002.
- ^ John Battersby, "Is Mugabe on the way out?", Saturday Star (IOL), May 3, 2003.
- ^ "Mugabe faces rival inside party", BBC News, January 14, 2008 (accessed February 07, 2008).
- ^ Mbudzi warns CIO [2]
- ^ "Makoni: Mugabe's Waterloo", Daily News (South Africa), February 7, 2008, page 15.
- ^ Peta Thornycroft, "Zimbabwe Presidential Candidate Says Nation Suffering Under Mugabe", VOA News, February 29, 2008.
- ^ The Herald [3](accessed February 07, 2008)
- ^ "Makoni has expelled himself from Zanu PF - Mnangagwa", AFP (newzimbabwe.com), February 6, 2008 (accessed February 7, 2008).
- ^ "I am my own man, says determined Makoni", Reuters (IOL), February 8, 2008.
- ^ "Mugabe rival expelled from party", BBC News, 12 February 2008.
- ^ "Mugabe labels rebel former finance minister 'prostitute'", AFP, February 21, 2008.
- ^ Lebo Nkatazo, "Mugabe says Makoni 'worse than a prostitute'", newzimbabwe.com, February 21, 2008.
- ^ "journalists from both the local and international media were annoyed with Makoni’s campaign team for misleading them into believing that retired General Solomon Mujuru, Ray Kaukonde and other Zanu PF heavyweights would publicly declare their support for Makoni", The Standard, March 22,2008
- ^ "Makoni camp suffers setback", Zimbabwe Independent, March 20,2008
- ^ Fikile Mapala, "Mutambara withdraws from race, backs Makoni", newzimbabwe.com, February 15, 2008.
- ^ "Rival wins key supporter", BBC News, March 1, 2008.
- ^ "Ex- Zim Minister Confirms Backing Makoni, vying for Senatorial Seat", The Zimbabwe Gazette, March 4,2008
- ^ "Makoni left Sadc in 1993, three years after it was rocked by a $25 000 financial scam", allArica.com, February 1,2008