SIMBA MAKONI, the third-placed candidate in Zimbabwe's first round presidential vote in March, hit out on Tuesday at his exclusion from talks aimed at ending the country's crisis.
Makoni, who was previously seen as a possible bridge between President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, was notably absent from a ceremony on Monday to sign a deal to begin two weeks of intensive talks.
"I cannot explain my absence from that signing ceremony," the former finance minister told South African public radio, saying "many Zimbabweans" believed his movement should have a role in both the current talks and the future of the country.
"I feel it is sad that we are not involved at this stage. But this is only the beginning, there is more to come and we believe that we will make our contribution in that more to come."
Despite his exclusion, Makoni described the memorandum of understanding signed in Harare as "a promising start."
"I think the key factor here is how serious, honest and genuine are people at solving the country's problems together. We hope that they genuinely mean they wish to work together," he said.
Makoni infuriated Mugabe when he decided to run as an independent in the first round of voting on March 29.
He trailed in third with around eight percent of votes and was not a candidate in a second round last month which saw Mugabe re-elected after Tsvangirai withdrew in protest at attacks on his supporters.
AFP
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BLAKIDZA • mwanakizy@yahoo.co.uk Subject: too late wasu Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:54:07 • wasu zvakanzi nevasharukwa chinono chinenengwe bere rakadya ringofamba.Nguva iyo yatanga takaita wait tichifunga kuti muchaita come out nesomething hamunakubuda.Wasu the truth is people overrated you at a younger age izvo zvaidiwa na Bob and it happened i thought by now makumuziva musharukwa uyu he is cunning and clever. edzayi zvimwe wasu may be farming.
samas • n/a Subject: n/a Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:32:32 • Iwe Tisu Vatongi, murikugarireyi musango? Discard this bush thing and be modern. That's the reason why Zpf has these retrogressive tendencies. Wake up and smell the coffee. You said you will never talk with puppets, imperialist stooges but now you are shaking hands and having dinner with them.
tindo • t_en200@yahoo.com Subject: simba who are you Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:54:27 • simba who are you in the politics of zimbabwe, you are a political opportunist and you don't have MP'S.
Changamire Dombo • ChangamireDombo@rocketmail.com Subject: Hevo Nyati Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:04:29 • Cde Simba, with all due respect to you Cde, put simly, you left it until too late to join the bandwagon and you are kindly asked not to start singing now.
Dance along if you please.
Uswa hweNyati ndouri mudumbu, uri pamuromo inofa nahwo.
A few words to an intelligent person should suffice.
Tomorrow will soon come.
Tisu Vatongi • tisu@hotmail.com Subject: Mavambo must start Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:20:08 • Mavambo does not have a constituency. Professor Moyo with his one seat from Tsholotsho has a much firmer case for inclusion than Makoni. Makoni must do his groundwork and not rely on Ibbotson alone.
'Viva Zanu Kugara Musango Taneta
madzo • martkach@yahoo.com Subject: he's crazy Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:31:40 • simba people rejected you please do us a favour shut up! we have enough already and you are the last thing zimbabwe wants now.
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