Independent Zimbabwean presidential hopeful Simba Makoni said he is confident he will achieve a landslide victory in the March 29 contest despite predictions by some he will merely split the vote against incumbent President Robert Mugabe with opposition Movement for Democratic Change founder Morgan Tsvangirai.

Makoni has generated considerable interest in the electorate since he declared his candidacy on February 5 - though his former ruling ZANU-PF party colleagues have been at pains to distance themselves from him as observers also say he will siphon votes from President Mugabe amid economic distress and mounting poverty.

Wherever the votes come from, Makoni said in an interview with reporter Blessing Zulu of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that that he believes victory is assured.

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