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16 February 2008
By Never Kadungure
Former Finance Minister Simba Makoni who recently broke away from Zanu PF has made a sensational u-turn by moving to distance himself away from a faction of the opposition MDC led by Arthur Mutambara.
Ten minutes after Makoni filed his nomination papers in Harare he walked outside the Mashonganyika Buildings and told journalists he would be not joining forces with the Mutambara MDC.
This is despite Mutambara's group holding a press conference on the same day at which they claimed Mutambara stepped down from the race to make way for Makoni. Mutambara is thought to have decided on running for MP in the newly created Zengeza West constituency.
'I'm not aligned to anybody and I remain independent,' Makoni said. Commentators say Mutambara is desperate to avoid the humiliation of a poor showing in the elections and was prepared to step down for everyone from Tsvangirai to Makoni.
Mutambara MDC Deputy Secretary General Priscilla Misihairambwi told the New Zimbabwe website on Friday that under the 'alliance' if Makoni was to win the election Mutambara would become the Vice President.
That is unlikely given Makoni is trying to distance himself from the image of the MDC as a puppet party sponsored by the West, an accusation he himself battled to fight all last week, the commentator said.
Meanwhile the MDC under Tsvangirai is happy at the three horse race between their leader, Makoni and Mugabe. Speaking to SW Radio Africa party spokesman Nelson Chamisa said, 'What is good for us is a divided Zanu-PF which is going to be mincemeat for us. Besides being an easier competitor they are now a weaker opponent as their rigging machinery is now in tatters.'
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