Mugabe rival booted from ruling party
Published: Feb. 6, 2008 at 6:39 PM
HARARE, Zimbabwe, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- A Zimbabwe politician has been ousted from the ruling party after announcing he would run for president against incumbent strongman Robert Mugabe.
A spokesman for Mugabe's Zanu-PF part told the Financial Times Wednesday that Simba Makoni was expelled under party rules.
But not all party leaders took such a benign position. The Times said one veteran Mugabe supporter called Makoni a turncoat who would be trounced in the March 29 elections.
Joseph Chinotimba also warned, "Traitors should know that Zanu-PF has a history of dealing with their kind."
Makoni was once a member of Mugabe's Cabinet and has ties to Joyce Mujuru, one of Mugabe's two vice presidents. The Times said Mujuru had enough support in the party to cause a split should she formally break with Mugabe.
The expulsion of Makoni was seen as a warning to Zanu-PF members to think twice before abandoning Mugabe and hitching their wagon to Makoni.
A spokesman for Mugabe's Zanu-PF part told the Financial Times Wednesday that Simba Makoni was expelled under party rules.
But not all party leaders took such a benign position. The Times said one veteran Mugabe supporter called Makoni a turncoat who would be trounced in the March 29 elections.
Joseph Chinotimba also warned, "Traitors should know that Zanu-PF has a history of dealing with their kind."
Makoni was once a member of Mugabe's Cabinet and has ties to Joyce Mujuru, one of Mugabe's two vice presidents. The Times said Mujuru had enough support in the party to cause a split should she formally break with Mugabe.
The expulsion of Makoni was seen as a warning to Zanu-PF members to think twice before abandoning Mugabe and hitching their wagon to Makoni.
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This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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