Is this the man to beat Mugabe?

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is likely to face a strong challenge in elections this year at the hands of an entirely new political party, and a new young presidential candidate. Mugabe's Zanu-PF power base has split, allowing the formation of a newly-constituted Patriotic Front party.

The man earmarked to be the next President is Simba Makoni, a charismatic candidate who was briefly finance minister and who is popular inside Zanu-PF and with the general public. Makoni was identified on Monday by the BBC News as a potential threat to Mugabe; but reporter John Simpson failed to reveal that Makoni represents a new party.

Some observers believe Makoni is too lightweight to take on the formidable Mugabe. But many find him a charismatic figure and point to his power base, a

group led by ex-general and businessman Solomon Mujuru and his wife Joyce, who is one of Mugabe's vice-presidents.

The official announcement of the new party is expected in the first week of February. Observers see it as the result of long-simmering resentment of Mugabe within Zanu-PF, coupled with despair over the ever-more lamentable state of the country's economy.

Combined parliamentary and presidential elections were slated for February, but have recently been officially delayed until March. However, The First Post has learned that Mugabe, in a bid to gain time, has now put them off until June.

Personalities in the Patriotic Front leadership include such expected names as writer and ex-minister Fay Chung, former academic and press boss Ibbo Mandaza, and industry minister Nkosana Moyo. More of a