Zimbabwe's Makoni made bold Mugabe challenge

HARARE (Reuters) - Simba Makoni's break from Robert Mugabe's ruling party marked the biggest internal challenge to Zimbabwe's president since he took office and exposed the cracks in the veteran leader's power base.

But Makoni may struggle in Saturday's presidential election after a campaign of only a few weeks and given the fact that ZANU-PF heavyweights rumored to be behind him have failed to come out in the open.

Viewed by some as a reform-minded technocrat largely untainted by pervasive corruption, the former finance minister has defended himself from criticism that he shared the blame for the economic catastrophe during his years as a Mugabe ally.

Like other candidates, Makoni has made reviving the economy the centerpiece of his campaign.

But unlike the big rallies for Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, Makoni has only been able to draw small -- although enthusiastic -- crowds.

And he lacks the opposition credentials of Tsvangirai, who as leader of the main faction of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has endured one Mugabe crackdown after another.

"He will most likely split the ZANU-PF vote and the MDC could ride to victory," political analyst and Mugabe critic John Makumbe said of Makoni's chances, although other analysts believe he could appeal across the political divide.

Makoni first defied Mugabe in 2002 when he resigned as finance minister in a row over how to deal with the growing economic crisis.

Makoni had been pressing for an official devaluation of the Zimbabwe dollar, drawing accusations of economic sabotage from Mugabe.

Makoni, who turned 58 on March 26, studied chemistry in Britain.

At independence in 1980, he was appointed deputy minister of agriculture and also held other posts before serving for nine years as executive secretary of the Southern African Development Community. He returned to Zimbabwe in 1993.

Makoni has said he had wide support from ZANU-PF heavyweights who have grown tired of Mugabe. But many have lined up to publicly denounce Makoni and pledge loyalty to Mugabe, who has called Makoni a political prostitute.

Makoni was formally expelled from the ruling party last month for his challenge.

(Editing by Michael Georgy and Matthew Tostevin)