Simba Makoni was one of the youngest cabinet ministers at independence. When he was posted to the Southern African Development Community as secretary-general, there was wide speculation that President Robert Mugabe was grooming him to eventually take over and was giving him the international exposure that he needed
These hopes were dashed when after leaving SADC, Makoni was made chief executive of Zimbabwe Newspapers. Political observers believed this was a way to keep Makoni out of politics and succession.
But hopes were raised again when he was catapulted to Finance Minister in 2000. He remained a strong contender until he decided to stand against Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai in 2008.
Most people believe Makoni was misled by his colleagues from ZANU-PF who had promised to break away from the party at the critical period in the run up to the 2008 elections but never did so.
There are 142 Wikileaks cables on Makoni. Here they are.
142-Mpofu a political lightweight
140-Dabengwa said Makoni would never break from ZANU-PF
139-Mutambara piffed West not willing to oust Mugabe by military force
138-SA refused to bow down to pressure to force Mugabe to step down
137-Mzembi said Gono was running scared
136-How Mugabe clipped Mujuru’s wings
135-Gono planned to start his own party
134-Was Grace prophetic about Tsvangirai?
133-Makoni attracted wrath of media for saying MDC was violent
132-Mnangagwa assumed virtual presidency role in runoff
131-Tsvangirai galvanised short-lived MDC united front
130-Masamvu said Mugabe would hand over to Mnangagwa in six months
129-Makoni said Tsvangirai was influenced too much by Masiyiwa and Bennett
128-Trevor Ncube said the MDC is unstrategic and arrogant
127-Tsvangirai prepared to work with Mutambara not Makoni
126-Tsvangirai and Makoni had no problem with elections
125-Trevor Ncube said Masiyiwa should not be trusted
123-Herald calls Tsvangirai and Makoni Western stooges
122-Mugabe was ready to concede defeat in 2008 – Wikileaks
121-ZANU-PF planned to rig 2008 election a day after vote- Wikileaks
120-Mujuru was in contact with Tsvangirai to deny Mugabe victory?
118-Mutasa said Mugabe had to go
117-Makoni was seen as a spoiler
116-Masiyiwa funded anti-rigging plan in 2008 elections- Wikileaks
115-Did Mugabe use indigenisation to scare business not to vote for Makoni?
114-Gen Mujuru told Mugabe to resign two weeks before 2008 elections!
113-Dabengwa was confident Mugabe could be defeated
112-US ambassador said Makoni candidacy would make rigging more difficult
111-Goche refused US offer for a Mugabe exit package
110-SA official said Makoni’s presidential bid was premature
109-Mugabe led in opinion poll three weeks before elections
108-Bennett said the Makoni project was a ruse
107-Simba Makoni or Jonathan Moyo-who was responsible for postponement of nomination date?
106-Did Mujuru back Makoni or not?
105-Chinotimba called Simba Makoni a traitor
104-Gono said Makoni’s backers lacked credibility
103-Goche said Makoni was a coward
102-Mujuru preferred Dabengwa to Makoni
101-Bulawayo mayor advocated for an anti-Mugabe coalition
100-Makoni was the best ZANU-PF could offer
99-Mushore said the Mujurus were behind Makoni
98-Ten Mutambara MPs were ready to defect- Bennett
97-Why no one in ZANU-PF is challenging Mugabe
96-Trevor Ncube thoroughly disgusted with MDC
95-Mugabe tried to put Mujuru under surveillance but CIO refused
94-US ambassador conceded that Jonathan Moyo is a shrewd analyst
93-Masiyiwa had ties to both ZANU-PF and MDC!
92-Jonathan Moyo says Mandela asked Mugabe to step down in 2007
91-Getting Bob out first step to change in Zimbabwe
90-SA opposed extension of Mugabe’s term- Masamvu
89-Zvobgo Jnr and Jonathan Moyo differ on future of VP Mujuru
88-Mugabe fears for his wife and children
87-Coltart said Makoni might emerge compromise candidate
86-Shamuyarira said Makoni was a serious presidential contender
85-Makoni was South Africa’s first choice for president
84-State Department supported business forum in Harare
83-Zimbabweans good at planning but not implementing
82-Zvobgo said everyone agreed that Mugabe had outlived his time
81-Gono told Dell that Grace wanted Mugabe to step down
80-Georgias says Mugabe is the key
79-Makoni talks about three ways for regime change
78-US view on the ZANU-PF succession battle
76-Zvobgo says Mugabe’s departure will trigger uncertainty, national relief
75-US official says Jonathan Moyo is a political chameleon
74-Mutasa said he was responsible for Murambatsvina and had no regrets
73-US embassy official said he expected no change while Mugabe was still alive
72-Makoni urged US to talk to Mutasa to improve relations
71-Botswana pleaded with US to support Makoni for ADB job
70-Business said there was no hope until Mugabe was gone
69-Makoni right candidate wrong country
68-Gono: wolf in sheep’s clothing?
67-Squabbles galore in ZANU-PF but….
66-Makoni says ZANU-PF politburo is dysfunctional
65-Ncube said Mujuru and Makoni were all out to bring down Mnangagwa
64-Makoni said Mugabe wanted to crush MDC not accommodate it
63-Makoni asked Gono how he got away with double what he had
62-ZANU-PF succession scorecard
61-Bishops say Manicaland has never followed the ZANU-PF line
60-Gono becomes central banker, Finance, and Trade minister melded in one
59-Gono did not want RBZ job- Wikileaks
58-Did Mutasa outsmart Oppah Muchinguri?
57Chindori-Chininga’s take on the succession issue
56-Mugabe’s potential successor according to Tsvangirai
55-Makoni insisted 40 percent of white farmers could get back their land
53-Makoni can only be pushed by Mujuru
52-Mugabe reluctant to choose a Karanga as successor- ambassador
51-Makoni says dismissal of Mudzuri work of Gang of Four
50-US ambassador says Makoni is a breath of fresh air
49-Media reaction to George Bush’s visit to Africa
48-Makoni says ministers cowed by Mugabe
47-Five years of ruinous policy
46-Murerwa takes over from Makoni
45-MP says Mugabe wanted to step down in 2001 but was urged to stay on
44-Mugabe rewards loyalty not competence
43-Devaluation through the back door
42-RBZ document leaked to US embassy
41-Robertson on how Zimbabwe was getting its fuel
40-Letter detailing Zimbabwe’s debts leaked to US embassy
38-Makoni bows down to tobacco famers
37-Finance permsec resigned to ZANU-PF machinations
36-Makoni paints bleak picture of Zimbabwe
35-Pius Ncube says Tsvangirai is too weak to lead Zimbabwe
34-Zvobgo says Mugabe has too much power
33-Tsvangirai says Mugabe mistrusts everyone
32-Makoni acknowledges there will be a food shortage
31-How to get Mugabe to step down
30-Makoni asked Zvobgo how he could get out of government
28-Farmers see Makoni as conduit to Mugabe
27-Mugabe’s presidential succession race down to two runners
26-CFU director proposed sanctions on individuals rather than on Zimbabwe
25-Chamisa, Musekiwa, Jongwe and Sikhala are ZANU-PF plants!
24-Farmers say Mugabe does not want to destroy agriculture but to keep them out of politics
23-Nicholas Ncube disappoints US embassy officials
22-ZANU-PF offered MDC 40% of cabinet seats if it entered GNU in 2001
21-Zvobgo says Mugabe is now a majority of one in ZANU-PF
20-Mnangagwa would be more ruthless than Mugabe- Wikileaks
18-Did Chombo make an about-turn on land reform?
17-US could cut aid to Zimbabwe over a US$210 000 debt
16-Mugabe views everything according to whether it threatens his tenure or not
15-US embassy showers Makoni with praise on his first budget
14-Danish Ministers says Mugabe is “a man without a plan”
13-Kasukuwere says Mugabe must be phased out for ZANU-PF to survive
12-Mugabe believes he is the only one who can hold ZANU-PF together
11-Tsvangirai says it would be risky to make him disappear
10-Withdrawal of troops from DRC linked to presidential elections
9-IMF team paints a bleak picture of Zimbabwe
8-Mugabe is like a father who has betrayed his children – MP
7-Makoni says judge Zimbabwe on its deeds not its rhetoric
5-Cabinet split four weeks after getting into office
4-US embassy says Mugabe sees himself as the Fidel Castro of Southern Africa
3-IMF resident rep sees bleak future for Zimbabwe
2-Tsvangirai says Makoni is a coward
1-Mugabe’s cabinet composed of place holders
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