Econet boss Strive Masiyiwa may not be interested in politics but his name was tossed around as one of the possible candidates to take on President Robert Mugabe because Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai was considered weak.
Former journalist turned political analyst Sydney Masamvu told South African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad in April 2007 that there were three natural candidates who were acceptable to both ZANU-PF and MDC.
They were Simba Makoni, Gideon Gono and Strive Masiyiwa.
Makoni was still a member of the ZANU-PF politburo though he had been fired as Finance Minister five years earlier while Gono was the central bank governor.
Pahad told Masamwu that he held Tsvangirai in low regard but had higher esteem for MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti.
Masamvu said Masiyiwa was not tainted. He was respected by the international community, and had ties both to ZANU-PF because of his uncle is Vice President Joseph Msika and to the MDC which he quietly supported.
Pahad told Masamvu that these were the “same types of individuals” that he and President Thabo Mbeki had identified as potential leaders.
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