Interview With Zimbabwe's Dr Simba Makoni

Written by TVSA Team from the blog 3rd Degree on 11 Mar 2008
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On 3rd degree tonight:

Episode: Interview With Zimbabwe's Dr Simba Makoni
Broadcast date: 11 March, 2008 at 20h00
Channel: etv

At 100 000%, Zimbabwe has the highest inflation rate in the world. On 29 March, Zimbabweans go to vote for a new president and elect a new parliament.

The country has a shattered economy characterized by rampant food and fuel shortages, queues to buy the most basic commodities are now a daily occurrence; foreign currency shortages have ground Zimbabwe’s international trade to a halt.

President Robert Mugabe has for the past 28 years ruled the country with an iron fist, using state machinery to crush any opposition in his wake. The main opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change, accuses Mugabe of rigging the past three elections. However, infighting among opposition forces seems to have played into Mugabe’s hands. Over the years, voters, tired of empty promises and a failing opposition, were staying away.

Up until mid January, the elections were thought to be a forgone conclusion, Zimbabweans resigned to yet another six-year term for President Mugabe. Then, enter Dr Simba Makoni, a former Finance Minister and member of the ruling Zanu PF’s top decision-making body, the politburo.

Many political analysts have described his entry into the presidential race against his former boss as a significant political shift in the right direction. Could he end Robert Mugabe’s 28-year iron rule? Can he defeat a well-established opposition political leader, Morgan Tsvangirai? All this will be decided on 29 March when Zimbabweans flock to the polls.

Tonight 3rd Degree brings you an exclusive interview with the new kid on the block, Dr. Simba Makoni and a look at the situation in the country ahead of the polls.

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18 Comments

Qheng-hi
11 Mar 2008 03:45

1. Whoever wrote this is definitely in the wrong industry. What a boring synopsis for such an interesting topic! 2. It's Simba Makoni and not Zimba, haybo! 3. "On 29 March, Zimbabweans go to vote for a new president and elect a new parliament." Does this read right to you? 4. What happened to being 'grounded'? 5. "characterized" - Go figure! Next time, read your writing. It's an order.

MADENZA
11 Mar 2008 03:54

mara Zim needs help serious.

faraimagic
11 Mar 2008 04:10

you know wat they say about media....so im not discussing this..........as much as it is bad in Zim...i have a frend of mine who lives in Zim and has no intentions of going out of Zim....they tell me kuti he just Bought himself a private Jet!.....im talking someone a year younger than me.....

People who have never bin in zim say wat they dont know.....realy its bad but not for all!

Mugabe is not Zimbabwe...and Zimbabwe is not Mugabe!!!

faraimagic
11 Mar 2008 04:18

this is simplethere is going to be change in Zim if a new president is elected....not Tsvangirayi and Def not Mugabe!!! coz If Mugabe wins Tsvangison will just come out on TV saying he has been Rigged then we will have to wait for other 5yrs....and if Tsvangirayi wins of which he will never...Mugabe will not allow that...so SIMBA for President it is ...and this Simba will def kick ass!

poshspice
11 Mar 2008 04:37

Mugabe will retire on his own, Simba says he has the backing of Zanu PF heavyweights and a few has come out so far...this is a matter of bread and butter...meaning as much as there are many ZANU PF leaders who disagree with Mugabe, they know they will loose a lot if they come out and disagree with him...

Bra Bizza
11 Mar 2008 05:11

for as long as that old man lives....everyone should forget about him loosing the elections....this is just a formality...

Mathaz
11 Mar 2008 05:41

Absolute power corrupts, Mugabe had so much potential but felt that he was victimised by all these santions by the US and Britain. Simba looks set for the presidency but i think Mugabe will let him win if he promises him that he won't be taken to the International Court for human rights violations like Charles Taylor.

kikidlamini
12 Mar 2008 01:39

I have watched the show and I must say thanks to 3rd degree for working hard at discouraging the people of Zimbabwe from voting now RGM can surely walk his way to victory. We would even vote for a monkey if it contested in the election where ever it comes from. Do you know most people were not going to vote were it not for Simba - people now believed there could be a way out but well there's always big mouthed journalists who have to go and cast doubts on people's mind. Obviously Miss Reporter you have a boss and am sure he makes some decisions against your word of advice - so should we hold that against you. Why then would you hold it against Simba. We are tired of these speculations we just want to change even if its from within.

Mathaz
12 Mar 2008 07:18

Simba is so confident that he is going to win, Debora can be too harsh at times and she pushes for the answers that she wants to hear. All the best to Dr Makoni. How does the MDC funtion with two presidents?

faraimagic
12 Mar 2008 07:24

Mathaz thas why MDC will never win they are not serious from the begining....as for Debora you are right she pushes for wat she wants to hear......i realy am placing my vote for Dr Simba Makoni! Mugabe must just forget this time around...he wud let anyone else win but not Tsvangirai......Movement of Democratic Confused!

muzimbofosho
13 Mar 2008 01:09

I think Deborah was representing Mugabe because of the way she tried to decampaign Simba. Thanx to Simba for refusing to be drawn into cheap politics. Simba will be in office come 29 March. What he does with Mugabe after that is irrelevent. All we need is change. To Tsvangirai I say tough luck. How do u expect to lead a country when u cant control your own party?

Cande
13 Mar 2008 01:17

Qheng-hi is stil alive? Welcome back...!

MADENZA
13 Mar 2008 03:29

it is going to be a tough one, i cannot predict this one but i hope Simba wins.

Stash
13 Mar 2008 07:25

If you were here (Zimbabwe) you'd want this guy to give us answers, and Debra, irritating as she is, extracts them. Some of you dont see the empty shelves and the sewerage flowing in the streets. visit the transcript of his interview again on www.zimgreats.com and you'll see he basically evaded questions and said a load of nothing. be real people, and cut us some flak. mnx

Mathaz
13 Mar 2008 08:18

Stash who would you rather see win? True we might not see what has happened to Zim and no, i'm not entirely dependent on the media to feed me with what's happening there but since wena you seem to know better than us, please enlighthen us.

jazzyree
13 Mar 2008 08:56

Where was Simba all this time when they Zimbos were suffering? He is but a coward running away when things get tough. There is nothing wrong with Mugabe but with the People in his government ,he is clinging on because he knows he let them go to far and its now costing himis he the one who invaded farms ? NO ! but he let them and could not renege because people wanted that.They stole and now they are rich , so if Simba wants to liberate the people why would he want to invite the same goons to be in power with him wake up people , yes Tsvangirai is not the best option but for now he is the better option he has fought his own liberation by being jailed and fighting to liberate the zimbos from this current government, infighting is everywhere its politics after all.
Don't be surprised when Simba hands out his victory to the old man( Thats if he wins )

Stash
14 Mar 2008 02:02

Mathaz what exactly do you want to be enlightened on? Be specific. Who doesnt know Zim has the highest inflation tagging 100, 000% right now, or that there is no food on the supermarket shelve, or that we have constant power cuts and unemployment rate running a riot at 80%, or that our health system has collapsed you cant have even a minor appendicitis operation at the country's largest hospital coz there is no anaesthetic? the list goes on, this country is jus gone to the dogs and your main worry is he- e, the way Debra treated Simba. Pa- leez broer

Stash
14 Mar 2008 02:06

Oh, forgot to answer your que, who would I rather see win? Anyone but Bob. But that anyone has to have his head screwed on properly. Thats why I want answers. That interview with Simba, that was nothing, you ought to widen your horizons and check out how the American grill and hold their candidate accountable for the smallest, careless statement. thats the way things should be. Politicians are supposed to be our servants, not the other way round ekse.

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