Johannesburg/Harare - The 'third man' in Zimbabwean politics,
former finance minister Simba Makoni, will soon announce he has
formed a new party and give his conditional support to Morgan
Tsvangirai's bid for president, his spokesman said Sunday.
Makoni, whom estimates show polling third in last weekend's
presidential election behind opposition leader Tsvangirai and Mugabe,
will announce the formation of his party after the long-awaited
election results are released, Denford Magora said.
'There is agreement within the movement (Makoni campaign) we
should formalize this thing but we are waiting for the final
results,' Magora said.
Makoni threw open the presidential race in February when he
announced, in a surprise move, he would run for president against his
former mentor Mugabe.
Although the results of the election have yet to be released eight
days after voting all estimates, even from Makoni's own campaign, put
him a distant third behind Tsvangirai and Mugabe.
'People around the country told us he was rather late coming to
the party,' Magora admitted.
In the likely event of a runoff vote between Mugabe and Tsvangirai
the MDC leader would have Makoni's support on condition they reached
agreement on 'concerns about the way the country is run,' Magora
said.
Observers have said Makoni could try to gain a position of prime
minister - a position that would have to be resurrected - in a
government of national unity led by Tsvangirai as president.
Magora insisted Makoni's endorsement would be premised on policy
issues.
Throughout his campaign Makoni, who campaigned on a message of
reform, claimed to have support within the upper echelons of Mugabe's
Zanu-PF, but only one senior party member - former home affairs
minister Dumiso Dabengwa - openly endorsed him.
Zanu-PF was soundly beaten by the opposition in elections to the
lower house of parliament - a win Zanu-PF is now contesting.
Magora warned the new party would not act as a haven for corrupt
members of Zanu-PF looking to 'flee (Mugabe's party) like rats from
sinking ship.'
'You can rest assured you will hear of people who making
approaches (to the new party) and are turned away,' he said.
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