Welshman Ncube pictured vote buying

For years Zimbabweans have complained about Zanu PF tactics of vote buying using food, seed and farm implements. In this picture MDC-N leader Welshman Ncube can be seen joining the club and distributing bicycles at a rally.

At another rally in his home area of Vungu in the Midlands, Ncube is promising villagers 4 cows each in return for their support. He gave 50 chickens at a place called Maboleni for a women’s project and when the people shunned his rally, he went and took back his chickens.

He is also accused of bussing people to attend his rallies and kills cows and chickens to entice starving villagers to attend. Locals asked why Ncube, a local boy, was only doing this now in the run up to expected elections in 2013.

There is mounting speculation that Ncube is contemplating running away from the Makokoba constituency in Bulawayo were in 2008 he was overwhelmingly beaten by Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe in parliamentary elections.

Meanwhile the decision by legendary broadcaster Ezra ‘Tshisa’ Sibanda to stand in Vungu for the MDC-T led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has given Ncube food for thought. Tshisa as he is affectionately known is expected to romp to victory with even Zanu PF structures said to be warming up to him.