ZIMBABWE’S former finance minister, Simba Makoni, has launched a new opposition party that promises to “clean up” the troubled country’s political landscape.

Mavambo Kusile Dawn, meaning “The Beginning of a New Dawn” in Shona , was launched at a low-key event in Mbare township, southwest of Harare.

Makoni, who is the party’s interim leader, told a group of supporters: “We offer ourselves to support and assist the inclusive government, we have resources at our disposal so that Zimbabwe can get working again.”

In 2001, Makoni publicly admitted that Zimbabwe’s economy was in a state of crisis as poverty was spreading at an alarming rate.

The following year, he quit as finance minister, citing policy differences with President Robert Mugabe.

Makoni, 59, has been denounced by Mugabe as a “prostitute” of the West and a “bloated frog” following his resignation from Zanu-PF in 2008.

He then wanted to contest the controversial March 2008 presidential election as an independent candidate.

He came third behind Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Mugabe.

Zimbabwe was then forced into a June runoff plagued by political violence and Tsvangirai pulled out of the race.

By The Times (SA)