Zimbabwe's electoral campaign takes a dramatic turn as Mugabe turns against his own party

The impending and historic election in Zimbabwe took an extraordinary turn after a dramatic intervention by Robert Mugabe who savagely attacked the ruling party he had led, and hailed the main candidate for the election. Opposition as the Only Viable Option "

The 94-year-old former president launched a bitter insult against Zanu-PF by saying," I must make it clear that I can not vote for those who m? have tormented, no I can not. 19659003] He condemns the "evil and evil characters" who drove him out of power and decried the military intervention that provoked him.

Monday's polls, the first in 38 years without Mr. Mugabe in power, have been portrayed as a break from the dark past and the first steps toward the repair of a fractured nation with a deeply divided society and an imploded economy.

But the sudden reappearance of the man who was, until recently, the oldest He has now added a new uncertain dynamics to this equation.

million. Mugabe did not directly approve the opposition alliance MDC (Movement for Democratic Change). But there was unequivocal approval for his leader who is challenging interim President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a former ally of Mugabe who replaced him during last November's coup d'etat.

million. Mugabe said: "Nelson Chamisa seems to be getting out of his rallies He wants a legitimate government to be in power and that it be put to an end by military intervention … I would certainly like to meet him if he wins. "

Himself, said the former president, will choose among the candidates for his vote, but it will not be Mr. Mnangagwa, of" the team of 18 November "which proceeded to its overthrow.

There were immediate complaints after Mugabe's wife, Grace, was the driving force behind the movement. The former First Lady, accused by her critics of rampant corruption and plotting to rule the country through her husband before his fall, is a staunch enemy of Mr. Mnangagwa.

Mrs. Mugabe was standing next to her husband, with an badistant holding an umbrella on her, while he was talking at a hastily and unexpectedly held press conference at Blue Roofs, the home in Harare where the couple had continued to stay after the president was removed from office. At one point, she asked Mr. Mugabe to "speak up".

It remains to be seen what effect Mr. Mugabe's initiative will have on the elections in which Mr. Chamisa drags Mr. Mnangagwa by three points in the polls. The MDC leader, who once had the skull fractured by the Mugabe regime's state security agents, could take advantage of supporters of the former president who wanted him to withdraw, but that could also deter Floating electorate Mr. Mnangagwa, who took care not to say anything particularly critical of Mugabe, may lose the support of the Zanu-PF old guard, but it could also be the opportunity to put aside the luggage that he was carrying. his long alliance with Mr. Mugabe

On Saturday, during the last round of election rallies, Mr. Chamisa was accompanied on stage by Eunice Sandi-Moyo, head of the organization of the National Patriotic Front (FNP) that had been created by the Mugabe Loyalists in March

The members were largely composed of the group & # 39; G 40 & # 39; or & # 39; Generation 40 & # 39; of Zanu-PF who had hitched their stars to the rise of Grace Mugabe

The MDC leader said: "Robert Mugabe is a Zimbabwean citizen, former president, and the president of the first republic who will hand over the second president of the republic – who is I, myself present. me to welcome the NPF here as a real Zanu-PF, it means that we have the original Zanu-PF, authentic and undiluted. "

The & # 39; G 40 & # 39; ; was blamed for the Bulawayo grenade attack a month ago President Mnangagwa who killed two people and injured more than 40 others.

No evidence has been adduced to date to support the statement made, inter alia, by Mr. Mnangagwa and by government officials of an alleged link between "G 40 "and Mugabe. A number of people were arrested after the attack, some were released.

million. Chamisa had, in the past, been forced to deny rumors that he had received Mugabe funds. However, he said: "We welcome every vote, Mugabe we welcome your vote, we want a new dispensation, a fresh start."

The MDC leader was also accused of seeing Grace Mugabe or others Former Mugabe government members were part of an administration should he win the election.

There was ambiguity in denial. He said at a recent gathering: "Anyone who wants to join us is welcome, our bus does not fill but it is impossible to join a church and become a deacon the same day".