News / National
Zanu-PF courting Simba Makoni
11 Jan 2013 at 14:08hrs | Views
The Zanu-PF faction aligned with the late army general Solomon Mujuru is said to be courting Simba Makoni the former finance minister and politburo member, who defected from the party in 2008 to run against President Robert Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
A Zanu-PF source said that the Mujuru grouping feels strategically outmanoeuvred by the faction led by Emmerson Mnangagwa, which has managed to lure leaders who left with Makoni, or who were suspended, back to the party, the Mail & Guardian reported.
The move to woo Makoni is part of a strategy to strengthen leadership of the Mujuru faction following Mujuru's mysterious death in a fire at his farmhouse in 2011, a source said.
"Many doubt that under [party vice-president] Joice Mujuru the faction can match the tactical sharpness of the Mnangagwa faction. She is not articulate on policy issues. It's the reason Makoni is being looked at," the source claimed.
"Makoni can come in as a strategist, working under Mujuru to give the faction some polish."
However, Makoni denied this week that he is talking to Zanu-PF about rejoining the party. His spokesperson, Joel Mapaura, said: "There is no truth in these reports. He has not been approached."
Some Zanu-PF leaders are also apparently resisting Makoni's return.
"People like Didymus Mutasa [the Zanu-PF secretary for administration] oppose Makoni's readmission. He feels [Makoni] could upset his possible rise to a higher position and challenge him as the party's godfather in Manicaland," said the source.
"Remember that they once fought after Makoni tried to oppose him in the Zanu-PF primaries some years back."
Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said he was not aware of any overtures being made. "I've been on leave and I don't know about these talks with Makoni," he said.
Mutasa said Makoni would have to seek readmission to Zanu-PF personally.
"Those who returned pleaded to be readmitted; Makoni has not done that. But if he wants to rejoin the party, we will not just admit him like we did with the others. A mini-meeting to consider that would have to be held."
Mutasa declined to explain why such a "mini-meeting" with Makoni would be required.
A Zanu-PF source said that the Mujuru grouping feels strategically outmanoeuvred by the faction led by Emmerson Mnangagwa, which has managed to lure leaders who left with Makoni, or who were suspended, back to the party, the Mail & Guardian reported.
The move to woo Makoni is part of a strategy to strengthen leadership of the Mujuru faction following Mujuru's mysterious death in a fire at his farmhouse in 2011, a source said.
"Many doubt that under [party vice-president] Joice Mujuru the faction can match the tactical sharpness of the Mnangagwa faction. She is not articulate on policy issues. It's the reason Makoni is being looked at," the source claimed.
"Makoni can come in as a strategist, working under Mujuru to give the faction some polish."
However, Makoni denied this week that he is talking to Zanu-PF about rejoining the party. His spokesperson, Joel Mapaura, said: "There is no truth in these reports. He has not been approached."
Some Zanu-PF leaders are also apparently resisting Makoni's return.
"Remember that they once fought after Makoni tried to oppose him in the Zanu-PF primaries some years back."
Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said he was not aware of any overtures being made. "I've been on leave and I don't know about these talks with Makoni," he said.
Mutasa said Makoni would have to seek readmission to Zanu-PF personally.
"Those who returned pleaded to be readmitted; Makoni has not done that. But if he wants to rejoin the party, we will not just admit him like we did with the others. A mini-meeting to consider that would have to be held."
Mutasa declined to explain why such a "mini-meeting" with Makoni would be required.
Source - mg.co.za
