By Cris Chinaka
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe isfacing the most serious challenge to his 28-year rule ascandidates including his own former finance minister registeron Friday for a March 29 general election.
Detractors accuse Mugabe of destroying the economy of thisonce-prosperous country and rigging the last three majorelections. But the divided opposition has failed to mount aserious challenge to the veteran leader, while the rulingZANU-PF party has so far maintained a united front.
That could change this year, with former ruling partystalwart Simba Makoni entering the race -- the first challengeto emerge from ZANU-PF ranks for two decades.
Makoni, who was expelled from the party for announcing hiscandidacy, is an economic reformer seen by some as a potentialsuccessor to Mugabe, but others call him a politicallightweight without broad support.
"His success depends on those political structures who aresaid to back him and whether they come out to declare theirallegiance to him," said Eldred Masunungure, a politicalscience professor at the University of Zimbabwe.
"Normally this kind of (economic) situation would condemnany government into the dustbin, but unfortunately theopposition is not healthy enough to overcome the repressiveenvironment for its own victory."
Zimbabwe was once of Africa's most promising economies, butis now mired in a deep economic crisis marked by risingpoverty, unemployment and chronic food and fuel shortages.Inflation is above 26,000 percent, the highest rate in theworld.
Critics say Mugabe, who turns 84 this month, has maintaineda tight grip on power through a combination of ruthlesssecurity crackdowns and an elaborate patronage system thatrewards those loyal to his government. Supporters revere him asan independence-era hero who fights for the rights of hispeople.
CROWDED FIELD
The increasingly crowded field -- which also includesleaders of two factions of the main opposition party, theMovement for Democratic Change -- represents an unprecedentedtest for one of Africa's longest-serving rulers.
Unable to agree on a single candidate, both MDC leaderMorgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, head of a breakawayfaction of the MDC, will register as candidates.
Unlike the split MDC, Makoni says he enjoys wide backingfrom party officials across the country, and could attractvotes from both opposition and government supporters eager forchange.
Local media reports say Makoni enjoys the support of formerarmy general Solomon Mujuru and other retired militaryofficers. Mujuru's wife is one of Mugabe's vice-presidents.
Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980,is seeking another five-year term after brushing off attemptsfrom Makoni's allies to force him into retirement.
The Zimbabwean leader dismisses his opponents as puppets ofWestern powers that are opposed to his policies, most notablythe seizure of thousands of white-owned farms forredistribution to landless blacks.
The land redistribution programme has coincided with asharp drop in agricultural production in the country, forcingMugabe's government to import maize, a key staple in southernAfrica.
Mugabe recently announced plans to force foreign-ownedcompanies to give Zimbabweans majority control of mines, banksand other assets, a move that has rattled the overseasinvestors who remain in the country.
The MDC, for its part, has softened its tone, leavingMugabe with room to manoeuvre.
"It is true that this time around, as we head into theseelections, nobody is seriously talking about or expecting anMDC victory, and that's because it looks unrealistic," saidLovemore Madhuku of the National Constitutional Assemblyinterest group.
"The reality is that the political ground is not even foran opposition victory, although the economy is in such shamblesthat such a victory should be guaranteed."
(Editing by Paul Simao and Caroline Drees)