Welshman Ncube was the second most powerful person within the Movement for Democratic Change when the party was formed in 1999. His political star, however, began to fade when he led a splinter group in 2005 that insisted that the party should contest the senate elections. A constitutional expert, Ncube may have been right in principle, but the move backfired. Though he allowed Arthur Mutambara to lead the party until he took over, the MDC that Ncube now leads only commands 10 seats in Parliament. It could even lose those seats to either his main rival Morgan Tsvangirai or the resuscitated Zimbabwe African People’s Union led by Dumiso Dabengwa. There are 207 Wikileaks cables on him. Here they are.
207-Cranswick claimed Mpofu forged documents on Marange
206-US ambassador said MDC lacked vision
205-Why no one wants elections- US ambassador says
204-Mutambara won’t win current 10 seats in next elections
203-Biti said Gono was a thief
202-Botswana had serious doubts about Tsvangirai’s leadership
201-Parties reconfigure control of constitutional process
200-Tsvangirai frustrated but he cannot leave inclusive government
199-Mangoma said Zimbabweans must rely on themselves
198-Biti will fail if he tries to take over from Tsvangirai- researcher
197-MDC-T’s dwindling majority
196-Fire MPs or face corruption charges
195-Ncube on diamonds committee
194-MDC favoured people-driven constitution
193-Speaker Moyo on how the constitutional process was supposed to work
192-Mutambara’s leadership style reminiscent of Mugabe
191-Who is who in the Parliamentary Select Committee?
190-Mugabe said Biti was his best Finance Minister ever
189-Ncube and Misihairabwi-Mushonga wanted sanctions lifted
187-US ambassador said it was in US interest to support MDC
186-Gono ZANU-PF’s poster boy for corruption
185-Mugabe, Tsvangirai reward loyalty for cabinet picks
184-Welshman Ncube makes it to cabinet
183-Inclusive government the only game in town
182-Mugabe has mastered the art of sleeping with one ear open
181-Tsvangirai said Mugabe needs me more than I need him
180-SADC put its foot down on formation of inclusive government
178-US ambassador said there was bad blood between Biti and Ncube
177-Chamisa and Biti did not want GPA
176-Parliament tied by delay in reaching agreement
175-Biti said ZANU-PF refused to give in on ministries
174-Biti said Welshman Ncube betrayed him
173-Welshman Ncube said Mutambara had a fragile ego
172-Biti said anything Mugabe touches is poisoned
171-The role of the Prime Minister
170-Former MDC MP said Mutambara was mentally off
169-Mutambara MPs were ready to ditch candidate a week before elections
168-US asked if MDC was going to be swallowed by ZANU-PF like ZAPU
167-Biti suspicious of Ncube and Misihairabwi-Mushonga
166-Mujuru found Tsvangirai more acceptable than Mnangagwa
165-Mai Mujuru tried to outmanoeuvre Mnangagwa during unity talks
164-Tsvangirai was aware after June 2008 that he could not lead new government
163-Biti was opposed to any government that included Mugabe
162-Why Mugabe went ahead with the presidential elections runoff in 2008
161-Ncube said unity talks were on
160-Diplomats questioned Tsvangirai’s ability to deliver
159-Tsvangirai galvanised short-lived MDC united front
158-MDC broke after 2008 elections
157-Masiyiwa said 25 ZANU-PF MPs were prepared to cross the floor in 2008
156-How the US viewed the MDC victory in 2008
155-Talks dead, MDC in a quandary
154-Behind the scenes in the run-up to the 2008 elections
153-Masiyiwa promised to fund MDC 2008 campaign
152-MDC sets conditions for SADC agreement
151-Mugabe has to indicate by “body language” he wants change- Biti
150-Chronology of Zimbabwe talks April to October 2007
149-Biti urged more sanctions, Ncube disagreed
148-MDC pressured into signing constitutional amendment
147-Mbeki wanted an election that would not be disputed
146-Khupe brings laughter to the house
145-ZANU-PF wanted elections by March to capitalise on divided opposition
144-Biti told US officials MDC had no chance in the 2008 elections
143-Trevor Ncube said Welshman Ncube is not a politician
142-Botswana wanted to “take the gloves off” with Mugabe
141-Ncube said pressure from West working but Mugabe preferred African solution
140-Dell said Ncube was a divisive and destructive player
139-Biti said Mufamadi hit the roof after reviewing ZANU-PF paper on talks
138-ZANU-PF fails to turn up for talks
136-Mugabe tried to put Mujuru under surveillance but CIO refused
135-Bennett kept million-dollar funding to MDC secret to keep vultures at bay
134-Masamvu passed MDC document to US officials
133-Mbeki wanted Mugabe out before he left office
132-Mutambara told Dell that Tsvangirai would be sole MDC candidate
131-Mutambara said Mugabe had betrayed the liberation struggle
130-Chikane said Mugabe was a madman
129-Police crackdown on opposition rallies
128-Mutambara said he had presidential ambitions
127-Tsvangirai said Mutambara was just a figurehead
126-Mutambara and Tsvangirai were for reunification but …
125-Tsvangirai wanted to get Ncube a job in the US to get rid of him
124-Mutambara faction asked for help from US
123-Biti said Mnangagwa and Mujuru were courting Tsvangirai
122-Khupe said security forces were tired of Mugabe
121-Mutambara was not first, second or even third choice for pro-senate MDC leadership!
120-Mutambara believed Zimbabwe could be the Singapore of Africa
119-Mutambara said Tsvangirai has become a “little Mugabe”
118-Coltart said Mutambara was one of Zimbabwe’s brightest sons
117-Mugabe rigid, defiant, isolated
116-Was Mnangagwa promised post of Prime Minister?
115-Pro-senate MDC wanted Shona leader with national appeal
113-Tsvangirai said South Africa was behind MDC split
112-Mujuru promised to take care of Welshman Ncube
111-Rift between Tsvangirai and Ncube widens
110-Mudzingwa said Tsvangirai won’t compromise
109-Dell said Tsvangirai was the heart and soul of the MDC
108-Gono was aware Masamvu talked to US embassy officials
107-Did Mbeki try to foster an alliance between Ncube and Dabengwa?
106-MDC sought “continued” US Support
105-Mugabe, rumoured to be dead, opens parliament
104-MDC tried to foment disturbances after crackdown on illegal activities
102-Tsvangirai told Dell that CIO had told him MDC had won over 90 seats
101-Dell brushed off rift between Tsvangirai and Ncube
100-MDC tried to lure expelled ZANU-PF politicians ahead of 2005 elections
99-Tsvangirai advisor speaks about challenges to MDC
98-Ncube disagrees with Tsvangirai on Mugabe
97-Why the US holds higher standards for Zimbabwe
95-Mugabe not good when there is no confrontation- UN official
94-MDC holds meeting in NO-Go area
93-Mnangagwa says MDC has a habit of changing its mind at 11th hour
92-Coltart said ZANU-PF election platform was MDC is finished
91-Gono said Jonathan Moyo had become a liability
90-Squabbles galore in ZANU-PF but….
89-Ncube said ZANU-PF had no presidential candidate
88-Madhuku said Tsvangirai and Ncube often differed
86-CIO keeps Mnangagwa a step ahead of his adversaries- Wikileaks
84-MDC supporters protest against imposed candidate
83-Ncube says talks are going nowhere
82-Chinamasa told Ncube that he was taking instructions directly from Mugabe
81-Tsvangirai regarded Mugabe as a hero
80-US embassy says Tsvangirai is too optimistic
79-SA ambassador said Mugabe was well versed with talks
78-Mashakada accused of vote buying
77-Zvobgo’s hospitalisation slows down bills
76-Mugabe told Mbeki he was not aware of the status of the intra-party talks
75-Chombo was after Mudzuri because he was Karanga
74-Ncube admitted that land reform was a fait accompli
73-MDC councillors freshmen unable to comprehend issues
72-ZANU-PF became anti-democratic after formation of MDC
71-Five questions that ZANU-PF wanted MDC to answer
70-Ncube and Chinamasa were discussing draft constitution way back in 2003
69-ZANU-PF strategy is to keep MDC on the defensive
68-US not allowed to help MDC set up office in Washington
67-Mugabe’s potential successor according to Tsvangirai
66-Why Mugabe did not want to talk to Tsvangirai
65-Ambassador describes Mugabe as the ultimate hardliner
64-Tsvangirai’s lawyers call for his discharge
63-Tsvangirai asked US to press South Africa for genuine dialogue
62-Was MDC split evident two years before it happened?
61-How church leaders tried to open dialogue between ZANU-PF and MDC
60-MDC leaders said Joshua Nkomo sold out for a comfortable life
59-Bishops tell MDC that ZANU-PF is willing to talk
58-US embassy said MDC stay-away was a PR failure
57-Tsvangirai arrested ahead of protest
56-Mnangagwa speaks on succession
55-Tsvangirai said war veterans were no match for MDC youth
54-CIO boss admitted destroying vouchers in Tsvangirai case
52-Tsvangirai lawyers confident of acquittal
51-MDC and ZANU-PF remain poles apart
50-POSA-the curse of the MDC MP
49-Ncube says war with ZANU-PF would be suicidal
48-Food donor surprised Msipa is a politician after all
47-MDC mobilised old women to support Tsvangirai during his trial
46-Ben Menashe says Tsvangirai is nuts
45-Ben Menashe dodges defence lawyer’s questions
44-Tsvangirai’s lawyer exposes Ben Menashe’s unfulfilled government contracts
43-Government agreed to pay Ben Menashe US$1 million
40-Tsvangirai says Mugabe will not last another six months
39-Ncube urged US to expel children of those on its sanctions list
38-Tsvangirai held in suspense for four months
37-Makumbe says MDC has to keep the fire burning
36-ZANU-PF wins Kadoma mayoral seat
35-Lawyer says Mugabe wanted to control professional workers
34-Ncube says danger signs were evident from the start in the Dickens saga
33-Tsvangirai charged with treason
32-MDC leaders planned to go into exile after presidential poll
31-Ncube says Tsvangirai was duped by Canadians
30-Zvobgo planned to ditch Mugabe for Tsvangirai two weeks before elections
29-Violence intensifies in run up to presidential elections
28-Makoni paints bleak picture of Zimbabwe
27-Pius Ncube says Tsvangirai is too weak to lead Zimbabwe
26-Tsvangirai and Biti described as Uncle Toms
25-Ncube says judge is a staunch ZANU-PF supporter
24-Gula-Ndebele and Welshman Ncube are cousins
23-Sikhanyiso Nlodvu’s college burnt by MDC supporters
22-Government crack down on MDC after murder of Cain Nkala
21-Tsvangirai escapes ZANU-PF attack- Jongwe suspended
20-MDC sweeps Bulawayo elections
19-Ncube says ZANU-PF is ready to go to war if MDC wins elections
18-ZANU-PF wins key by-election
17-Zimbabwe sliding slowly into police state
15-Only Queen of England can convince Mugabe to change his behaviour
14-Chamisa arrested for inciting violence
13-ZANU-PF upbeat after winning Bikita West by-election
12-Ncube says Tsvangirai has provided fodder for criticism of MDC
11-MDC cancels mass action but keeps government guessing
10-US sponsors dinner to get MDC and ZANU-PF talking
9-Danish Ministers says Mugabe is “a man without a plan”
8-Ncube says MDC is under pressure to get Mugabe out
7-Ncube believed Mugabe would declare state of emergency to avoid impeachment
6-John Nkomo says MDC bombed its own headquarters
5-Government trying to throttle off MDC
4-MDC victory in 2000 could have been destabilising
3-Rumour mill gives MDC victory
2-MDC expected to win at least 80 seats in 2000
1-US embassy expected MDC to win 30 seats in 2000
(50 VIEWS)
