Zimbabwe's small opposition parties form coalition for 2018 polls

Five minor opposition parties in Zimbabwe on Tuesday formed a coalition to challenge President Robert Mugabe in general elections set for 2018.

The parties to the coalition, known as the Coalition of Democrats, are the Democratic Assembly Restoration of Empowerment, Zimbabwe United for Democracy, Renewal Democracy of Zimbabwe, Mavambo/Kusile and the smaller Movement for Democratic Change led by Welshman Ncube.

Major opposition parties, the MDC led by former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the Zimbabwe People First led by former Vice President Joice Mujuru, and the People's Democratic Party led by former Finance Minister Tendai Biti did not sign the coalition pact.

Zimbabwe's opposition parties have previously formed coalitions to challenge Mugabe and his ruling Zanu-PF party but with no success.

Mugabe won the 2013 elections with 61 percent of the vote.

The chairperson of the coalition, Gilbert Dzikiti, said that by coming together, the parties hoped to gain enough muscle to dislodge Zanu-PF from power.

However, Zanu-PF spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo, told Xinhua the ruling party was unfazed by the coalition and would continue to concentrate on rebuilding the economy.

"It's a non event to us... We are busy improving economic conditions of our people," he said.

Mugabe, 92, has been in power since Zimbabwe's independence from Britain in 1980 and will seek re-election in the 2018 elections. Endit