Simba Makoni

Simbarashe Herbert Stanley Makoni ( born March 22, 1950 Rusape district ) is a Zimbabwean politician. Makoni was a member of the ruling ZANU- PF party from 2000 to 2002 the Minister of Finance and Economic Development of Zimbabwe. Due to political differences, he was released after 18 months in office of Robert Mugabe. After leaving office Makoni an extreme downward trend of the Zimbabwean economy, with an annual inflation -related, which was in December 2007 at more than 66,000 %, and an unemployment rate of 80 % began ( early 2008 ).

Makoni began a chemistry degree at the University of Rhodesia, but was expelled for political reasons. He continued his studies at the University of Leeds in the UK and graduated with a B.Sc from; later he earned a PhD yet. Between 1977 and 1980, Makoni was the chief representative of ZANU in Western Europe.

In Zimbabwe's independence in 1980, he was at the age of 30 years member of parliament for the province of Manicaland in the east of the country and Deputy Minister of Agriculture in the first cabinet Mugabe, then energy minister. Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, he was also in the course of his career. In 1984, Makoni Secretary of the SADCC. In 1993 he returned from Botswana back to Zimbabwe and until 2000 was head of the trade fair and exhibition company in Bulawayo.

Beginning of February 2008 declared Makoni announced his candidacy for the Zimbabwean presidential elections on March 29, 2008. Since the ZANU- PF supported the reelection of Robert Mugabe for a sixth term in office, Makoni ran as an independent candidate against Mugabe. In announcing his candidacy on February 5, he was the only rival candidate; Finally, however, Morgan Tsvangirai stood for election. On 12 February 2008, a spokesman for the ZANU -PF, Makoni had been officially expelled from the party because of his candidacy. On 29 February 2008 declared the ZANU -PF Politburo member Dumiso Dabengwa and former President of the Parliament Cyril Ndebele, they supported Makoni 's candidacy.

After five weeks of delay 2 May 2008 announced election result reached Makoni behind the winner of the first round of the elections, Morgan Tsvangirai, Mugabe and in third position a vote share of 8.3%.