Former Finance Minister Simba Makoni who left ZANU-PF to challenge Mugabe did badly; four of his top supporters lost their seats...
We hear Mwanawasa hopes that Zimbabwean ex-Finance Minister Simba Makoni might be able to pull a surprise but lambasts Western intereference for making matters worse in Zimbabwe...
And Simba Makoni has failed so far to drive a wedge between the competing factions within the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front...
Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change strongly opposed the bill in Parliament although criticism from the other main opposition candidate Simba Makoni has been more muted...
Meanwhile the candidacy of former Finance Minister Simba Makoni is alternately exciting electors and confusing ZANU-PF party cadres...
But supporters of Simba Makoni insist that Zvinavashe and Mavhaire are on their side and are working behind the scenes to push out Mugabe...
That is earnestly believed by the two main opposition candidates: Simba Makoni a former Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) politician now standing as an independent; and Morgan Tsvangirai leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)...
Whatever may happen in the presidential poll the legislative elections are crucial and independent candidates likely to swing behind Simba Makoni are thin on the ground...
Witty intelligent and persuasive Simba Makoni is a natural election campaigner...
This may prove to be the week that Simba Makoni and his backers started to turn the tide in Zimbabwe's politics...
Only former Finance Minister Simba Makoni can resolve the issue of whether he is going to challenge President Robert Mugabe for the Presidency in the elections now set for 29 March...