(NEWZIMBABWE) Makoni promises Mugabe ‘rude awakening’

Makoni promises Mugabe ‘rude awakening’
12/04/2012 00:00:00
by Gilbert Nyambabvu

FORMER Finance Minister and Mavambo Kusile Dawn (MKD) leader Dr Simba Makoni has dismissed snide remarks by President Robert Mugabe that he has no followers and warned the Zanu PF leader he faces a “rude awakening” at the next polls.

Addressing a recent Zanu PF central committee meeting in Harare, Mugabe said this of his former charge: ‘…ndakamubvunza kuti unaani... ko uneParty here? ... iye akati aah! vanhu vanondivhotera… hanzi vanhu vanonditera nekuti ndinonzi Simba Makoni.’ (I asked him whether he has any supporters and he said people will support me because I’m Simba Makoni).

In a statement Thursday, Makoni said he was “not moved” by Mugabe’s churlish remarks which, he added, “display the height of political intolerance” on the part of the Zanu PF leader.

“We do not need the endorsement of intolerant political competitors. We would be worried if such remarks were coming from thirteen million Zimbabweans,” he said.

“President Mugabe’s utterances do not reflect a popular sentiment and M.K.D will give him a rude awakening come next elections, which we hope will be conducted in an environment that guarantees a free and fair outcome.”

For years touted as a potential successor to Mugabe but frustrated by the veteran leader’s refusal to make way, Makoni challenged him for the presidency in 2008, claiming several Zanu PF big wigs backed his bid. But only Dumiso Dabengwa and a few lesser lights publicly supported him.

In the end he managed about 8 percent of the vote and, with that, the wrath of critics who accused him of helping keep Mugabe in power by taking away part of the opposition vote which could have handed Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC-T an outright win in the first round of the Presidential ballot.

But Makoni said Thursday his party was ready to pull a shocker at the next elections which are likely to be held this year if Mugabe has his way.

“President Mugabe’s utterances do not reflect a popular sentiment and M.K.D will give him a rude awakening come next elections, which we hope will be conducted in an environment that guarantees a free and fair outcome,” he said.

“Simba Makoni and M.K.D are here to stay and not going anywhere. By now, at least President Mugabe should know better. He would not have been so jittery if Makoni was not an issue in the country’s body politic.

“We are a serious game changer and neither an easy pushover nor cry baby in this field. We will stand our ground with equal measure. M.K.D has all it takes not only to contest, but win elections, govern effectively and efficiently and make this country work again.”

Fresh polls to replace the coalition government could be held this year if the country completes constitutional and other political reforms in time.

Even so, Mugabe has warned he could name an election date without the new constitution, accusing his rivals of deliberately undermining the reform process in order to delay the elections.

Still, Tsvangirai has insisted that the Zanu PF leader cannot unilaterally call elections under the terms of their coalition deal, adding his party would not contest the elections unless conditions are in place to guarantee a “free and fair” vote.