BUG #5960: No rule to make target 'libpq.a', needed by 'all-static-lib'

The following bug has been logged online:

Bug reference: 5960
Logged by: Julia Jacobson
Email address: julia(dot)jacobson(at)arcor(dot)de
PostgreSQL version: 8.4.6
Operating system: Windows 7 with Msys/MinGW
Description: No rule to make target 'libpq.a', needed by
'all-static-lib'
Details:

Dear PostgreSQL developers,

When trying to compile PostgreSQL 8.4.6 on Windows 7 using MSys (MinGW) in
order to build a static version of libpq by the commands
./configure --without-zlib --disable-shared
make
the compilation process ends with the error message
"No rule to make target 'libpq.a', needed by 'all-static-lib'".
This issue was already discussed here on the mailing list more than 6 years
ago and successfully fixed with a patch:
http://archives.postgresql.org/pgsql-hackers-win32/2004-10/msg00057.php
However, it seems to me like there is a similar problem in version 8.4.x.
Please corrected me if I'm wrong.

Regards,
Julia