"I am not a dictator", Says Ncube

Ncube led a group of MDC politicians to split from the main MDC wing in 2005 after accusing founding leader Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of being a dictator.

But in an exclusive interview with RadioVOP, Zimbabwe’s Industry and commerce minister strongly denied the same accusations now being levelled against him.

“I have not dictated anything to anybody unless someone thinks professor Ncube has the capacity to dictate to 12 provinces as to what they should do. I do not have that capacity. It is their prerogative,” said Ncube, who further denies performing a coup of former party President Arthur Mutambara.

“What Morgan Tsvangirai did was to say I reject the democratic decision of the party. As one individual, I am annulling a collective decision. That is what dictatorship is, rejection of a majority decision.”

A group of rebels led by former party chairperson Joubert Mudzumwe wrote a petition on the eve of last weekend of the party, accusing Ncube of violating the party’s constitution and imposing himself on the throne.

The party hass in the past year also expelled three legislators who said they were not satisfied with the way the party’s affairs were being handled by both Ncube and the past president Arthur Mutambara.

Ncube denied personally inviting Mutambara to become its leader saying this was a media creation.

Ncube, who has dismissed any possible merger by the two main MDC factions ahead of Zimbabwe’s elections, said he will only work with Tsvangirai only along the realm of a common objective of improving the livelihoods of citizens.

Ncube who said this week Mugabe should go said he did not regard him as a hero, although he was grateful for his role in Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.

After the 2005 split, the MDC party has suffered more break-ups. Former St Mary’s MP and party secretary for defence Job Sikhala last year went separate ways and went on to form his MDC-99 party.