BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe (Reuters) - A senior official in Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party said on Saturday he would support one of the main challengers to President Robert Mugabe in the March 29 election.
Dumiso Dabengwa, a senior politburo member, threw hisweight behind former finance minister Simba Makoni as he wasset to launch his presidential campaign.
"We urged him (Makoni) to come clean and take the burdenand we will give him the necessary facilitation and support,"he told business leaders.
The move could significantly strengthen Makoni's bid todefeat Zimbabwe's veteran leader who has capitalised on a weakand divided opposition to maintain a tight grip on the countrydespite a severe economic crisis.
Dabengwa was speaking at a meeting between Makoni andbusiness leaders in Zimbabwe's second city Bulawayo, which hasvoted for the opposition since 2000.
"It is not about his ability or strength. It's about thepeople of Zimbabwe and enabling them to chart the manner inwhich we can face the challenges," he said.
"All Makoni is doing is to create an environment where wecan say how we want our country to be governed."
Mugabe, 84, faces former ally Makoni, standing as anindependent, and Morgan Tsvangirai, a long time rival from themain opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
(Reporting by Nelson Banya; Editing by Robert Woodward)
