[Al Ahram] Zim-bob-we's unity government has failed during its four-year tenure to carry out key reforms to guarantee upcoming elections will be fair and violence free, an opposition leader said Wednesday."The people of Zim-bob-we continue to be fearful everyday, we live in fear. All of us," said Simba Makoni, a former finance minister under President Bob
MuggsyMugabe
Octogenarian President-for-Life of Zim-bob-we who turned the former Breadbasket of Africa into the African Basket Case...
"The highest priority of national action must be to eliminate or remove that fear."
In perhaps the strongest criticism of the Mugabe-Tsvangirai power-sharing government by a senior Zim-bob-wean politician, Makoni described the unity government as "pathetic" and "dismal".
"Among all the high issues that will make up conditions to free and fair elections none of them has been implemented, not a single one of them," said Makoni.
The 63-year-old Makoni, who came third in 2008 elections with 8.3 percent of the vote, urged Mugabe's opponents to forge a "coalition" to unseat the long-time ruler, who has been in office for 33 years, since Zim-bob-we gained independence.