Top Reasons Why Welshman Ncube Could Be The Next President Of Zimbabwe

Being in office for seven terms of 5 years each, President Robert Mugabe tenure of being the president is coming to an end shortly before or after the start of 2013 as the election period has been prescribed by the SADC Troika in Angola last week but who is the front runner or the likely candidate to replace him as the president of the republic of Zimbabwe? It may be premature or too early to predict the outcome of the presidential election considering the shifting political alliances being witnessed every now and then but all the same here below are my top reasons as to why I strongly believe the right honorable Professor of Laws could be the next president of Zimbabwe come Election Day.

1. Popular among the youth

Without doubt the youth make up the majority of the country's voting bloc which means whomever they vote for could be the president elect come the elections day. Fortunately for him and unfortunately for his competitors, the youth's votes are Welshman's to lose because he is very popular among them. This is evidenced in political rallies where the YOUTHFUL Professor is in attendance. They turn up in numbers and from the noise they make and the joy on their face; you can definitely say he is popular among them and that he is their political icon and symbol. With majority of the youth population behind him I expect Welshman to carry the day when the election results are announced by ZEC Chairperson and his commissioners.

2. He is seen as a reformer

Welshman is seen as a politician who carries with himself a reform tag. This is a massive boast for his presidential campaign because the voters in Zimbabwe are no longer in the dark old days of Chimurenga. They are enlightened on their rights, what their country needs and which kind of leader can create a better Zimbabwe for them.

Professor Ncube is a pioneer of reforms and multiparty democracy in Zimbabwe. He dared president Mugabe and his ZANU PF party when no one could open his mouth and thereby resulting in him being charged with high Treason by simply propagating for change and democracy. Until the late 90s , Zimbabwe was practically a single party state and it was through pressure by civil society organizations and political leaders led by the likes of Welshman, Morgan Tsvangirai, Gibson Sibanda e.t.c. that led to the birth of multiparty democracy in Zimbabwe.

Professor Ncube is also largely credited for the prospective passing of the new constitution enshirining Devolution of Power and many other critical government processes. Together with Mugabe and Tsvangirai he rallied his followers across Zimbabwe to come out in large numbers and partake in the constitution making process. That resulted in over 70% of Zimbabweans being involved in the making of the new constitution to promise many goodies for them and throwing to the dust bin of history the old constitution that Zimbabweans have suffered under. Therefore, carrying the tag of a reformer in his shoulders could increase the chances of Welshman Ncube becoming the second executive President of Zimbabwe.

3. His party has a national outlook

Remember MDC (standing for Movement for Democratic Change)?, if you don't know it's the party that Prof Ncube would run for the presidency and that he leads. The MDC seems to be having a national outlook as opposed to other political parties in Zimbabwe and it appeals to many people across Zimbabwe.

Some critics might not agree with me on this simply for the reason of Morgan Tsvangirai ditching the party to form MDCT but MDC still remains the party to beat in the coming elections. Morgan Tsvangirai may be commanding a large support base from his native rural home community that previously voted for the MDC in 2000 and 2005 elections but all the same it isn't a big blow to MDC's popularity considering the fact that more and more people are joining it.

4. He has no corruption issues associated with him

In a country where the corruption rate is massive, being free from engaging in it may be a big boast for someone especially if he is seeking a political office like the presidency. Welshman is a typical example here. He spent most of his political career agitating for change and democracy while in the opposition and he is on record to have opposed many times the corruption scandals taking place within Government. Zimbabweans will never forget major corruption scandals that have rocked the country and crippled its economy. Politicians (some of them seeking political office now) were behind scandals like the $1.5 million housing scandal, Willowgate scandal etc but are Zimbabweans very forgetful and forgiving to vote for them? definitely not and for that reason Welshman could be a beneficiary as he has no corruption scandals associated with him.

Therefore it is only common sense that a Presidential candidate popular with youths, leading a nationalist political party that strives on reforms and has no corruption scandal attached is most favorable to the Electorate.

Shephard Dube is the Deputy Chairperson MDC Youth Assembly Writing in his personal capacity