Not only was he expelled from Zanu PF but both the government owned
media and war veterans took turns slagging him off. A few hundred war
veterans demonstrated at the Zanu PF headquarters with deputy leader
Joseph Chinotimba warning Makoni against showing up at the building.
He called on war vets to take control of the headquarters declaring
that Makoni and his followers are now barred from entering the
premises; ‘We are now going to campaign vigorously for President
Mugabe. I feel sorry for Makoni, ayirasa (he’s lost it). From today
to the nomination date we will have finished with them. Mupanduki
kana achinge apanduka anoziva zvinoita Zanu-PF (a sell out will know
how Zanu PF deals with them).’ Â Mugabe has traditionally used the war vets as a paramilitary force to
intimidate or beat up his opponents and on cue Chinotimba has fired
the warning shots. He said Makoni could not stand as a Zanu PF
candidate and should form his own party. He also accused the former
SADC executive secretary of being used by the West, alleging; ‘We
know them all, it is not Makoni alone. We were waiting for them to
come out in the open.’ The war vets demanded to know Makoni’s status
within the party and Zanu PF secretary for legal affairs, Emerson
Mnangagwa seemed to confirm the inevitable. ‘He has expelled himself
from the party, he was not expelled by anyone but himself. That is
the position according to the rules of the party. So yes, indeed, he
is expelled from the party,’ Mnangagwa told journalists. Â Â Â Â Â Â A Herald story on Makoni’s announcement was eager to link the
challenge from the former finance minister with sponsorship from the
British, Swedish and American governments. They accused the three
countries of working with the MDC to effect regime change and that
Makoni was now part of the plot. Some analysts however say Mugabe’s
regime has been shaken to its foundation and the extension of the
nomination deadline from the 8th to the 15th February was now an
attempt at weeding out Makoni supporters, who may be running for
parliament. Not lost on the minds of many Zimbabweans is still the
possibility of the entire charade being a plot to split opposition
votes in the urban areas. A private meeting between Mugabe and Makoni
two weeks ago remains a source of suspicion. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The MDC has meanwhile welcomed Makoni’s decision. Tsvangirai party
spokesman Nelson Chamisa said, ‘the chickens are coming home to
roost. This has to be seen as a ZANU PF rebellion which should
crystalise the momentum for democratic change in this country.’
Gabriel Chaibva from the Mutambara camp said, ‘We welcome any
Zimbabwean committed to fighting the dictatorship of Mugabe.
Zimbabweans strive to see our country rising again,” he said
Post published in: News