Makoni is hot favourite

icial Herald newspaper, The Other Side.
Though he is a long-time member of Zanu (PF), Makoni has never had a large political profile in the party. But that may be changing. Reports suggest that South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki favours Makoni taking over the reins in a reformed Zanu (PF).
Charamba suggested in his column that by keeping silent on reports that he was Britain and SA governments’ hot favourite to take over from Mugabe, Makoni was lending credence to the reports. Wrote Charamba under his pseudonym, Nathaniel Manheru: “And how are we supposed to treat his (Makoni) silence so far? Doctor (Makoni), a postulation which goes unchallenged becomes fact. Surely you know the ramifications.”
Earlier this month, Makoni gave an exclusive interview to The Zimbabwean, in which he spelled out how he believed a national government should work.
He slammed the violent suppression of the democratic political opposition, saying while the two sides might have different ideologies, they should converge on matters of national interest. Political observers say that Makoni’s statement is significant because of its implicit criticism of the way the Mugabe government operates now. The interview has also added to speculation about looming political change in Zimbabwe.
A respected political commentator in Harare, speaking on condition of anonymity, said this week about 90 percent of the leaders within Zanu (PF) now believe an honourable exit had to be fashioned for Mugabe.