Kumbula, whose status at MDK is equivalent to the secretary general in other political parties, said Makoni had an 85 percent chance of grabbing the presidential vote.
He said the fact that Makoni garnered 8.3 percent of the presidential vote in 2008 after campaigning for only two months reflected how the party would fare this time around. MDK is not worried about the timing of elections but the conduciveness of the environment for the plebiscite.
“Zimbabwe should hold elections soon because the country is on the edge,” he said.
Corruption in the Government of National Unity has reached alarming levels, which MDK says can only be tamed by a Makoni-led government.
“It is on record that Makoni was a senior member of one of the most corrupt political parties in the world, Zanu (PF), but remained the only clean character to the end. This makes him an easy product to sell to the electorate,” said Kumbula, who expressed confidence that MDK would win a significant number of parliamentary seats and form the next government.
Regarding the prospects of forming a coalition with willing political parties ahead of elections, Kumbula said MDK was always prepared to join forces with anyone who shared the same objectives.
MDK was formed in 2008 as a political project led by former Zanu (PF) government finance minister, Simba Makoni. It contested March 2008 presidential elections with Makoni as candidate and garnered 8.3 percent of the vote.
Party candidates such as Fay Chung, Margaret Donga, Kudzai Mbudzi, Edgar Tekere and Ibbo Mandaza contested in the Senatorial race and none of them won.
“The country faces a severe food shortage but the GNU did not indicate its own plans to save lives. Despite the crisis there is nothing suggesting there are plans to revive the agriculture sector in the foreseeable future,” said Makoni in his 2012 seasonal greetings to the nation.
He said the manufacturing sector remained depressed with more operations either scaling down or ceasing altogether.
Makoni noted that some sections of the mining sector were bleeding profusely. In light of what was described as shortcomings of both Zanu (PF) and MDC, Makoni has confidence he will win the coming elections and form the next government.
Political analyst, Alexander Rusero, dismissed MDK as a Zanu (PF) project aimed at splitting votes and causing confusion at the political arena.
“As Zimbabweans warm up for harmonised elections later this year it is game on between Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe. Other presidential candidates and political parties will not have any impact on the electoral process as they will be as good as non-existent,” said Rusero.
Post published in: News