Blow for Zimbabwe challenger as vice-president backs Mugabe

HARARE (AFP) — Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's deputy Joyce Mujuru has thrown her weight behind the veteran ruler's bid for a sixth term, dispelling speculation linking her to Mugabe's rival Simba Makoni. Mujuru was quoted by the state-owned Herald newspaper on Monday as saying at a rally: "Firstly, you should vote for Comrade Mugabe, our presidential candidate, then ZANU-PF (the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front) councillors, MPs and senators ... Since Makoni announced early February he was challenging Mugabe for the presidency at a general election on March 29, there has been widespread speculation he enjoyed the tacit support of Mujuru as well as her influential husband Solomon Mujuru, a former head of the armed forces ...