Zimbabwe's former finance minister and Zanu PF politburo member Dr Simba Makoni on Wednesday launched a new political party, Mavambo Kusile Dawn (MKD), at Stodart Hall in the high density suburb of Mbare.

Stodart Hall is synonymous with meetings that were held at the hall by liberation movements prior to independence in 1980. As a tradition, national heroes are taken to lie in state at Stodart Hall before being buried at the Heroes Acre.

MKD was initially launched as a movement a month before the presidential elections of 2008, in which Makoni came a distant third with 7 percent of the vote. His candidates also failed to secure parliamentary seats in the same elections.

 The launch was attended by a few representatives from diplomatic missions and a handful of activists, according to New Ziana.

Dr Makoni could not be drawn to reveal the top leadership of his party, instead deferring the announcement to a later date.

 the formation of the party, Makoni said, was necessary to allow more players into the political playing field.

"It is necessary for democracy that our country has more choice, " he said.

He paid tribute to other political parties such as the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the now defunct Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM) that had paved way for the opening up of the political arena.

"We are committed to advance further those frontiers and widen the democratic space they opened up," he said.

The party's vision was for a stable, peaceful, united, progressive and developed Zimbabwe where rights of all citizens were respected and protected, he added.

Makoni said his party was committed to the people's welfare and would work toward empowering Zimbabweans including those in the Diaspora.

He also pledged to depoliticize the civil service, security agents, fight corruption and pave way for good governance and ethical business practices.

 "We advocate for a competent and non-partisan civil service to serve all Zimbabweans without discrimination, fear or favour," he said.

Makoni said his party prioritized promotion of national healing and reconciliation, restoring civil liberties as well as promoting economic and social viability.

Meanwhile, Makoni threw his weight behind the inclusive government saying he would want to see it work.

 "We want that inclusive government to work to alleviate the extreme suffering that the people of Zimbabwe have endured for the past 10 years," he said.

 He pledged his party was ready to help to ensure that the new government saved the interests of Zimbabwe.

 "We are offering ourselves to support and assist the inclusive government," he said. "We are a resource at your disposal. We want to reaffirm our availability and willingness to serve the people of Zimbabwe."

Makoni, however, bemoaned the slow pace at which the transitional government was addressing economic challenges facing the country.

He castigated politicians who were preoccupied with fighting over petty issues such as vehicles and chairing of the cabinet instead of addressing economic difficulties.