BULAWAYO - Welshman Ncube, leader of the smaller MDC faction, says despite years of President Robert Mugabe’s strong-hand rule, nothing can stop the collective will of the people from defeating the 88-year-old.

Ncube who was addressing the civic society in Bulawayo yesterday, said dictators have an imminent end.

“There is no dictatorship however powerful that can survive forever, there is no dictatorship however, powerful that can go against the collective will of the people,” Ncube said.

He said despite Mugabe’s over reliance on the security sector to remain in the country’s top office the people will oversee a smooth power transfer. Ncube, also the Industry minister, said the violence and fear perpetrated by armed forces on the country’s civilians and Mugabe’s opponents as witnessed in the 2008 presidential election re-run, would never be repeated.

“We know of the military interference in the country. Yes, the military did it in 2008 and that will not be repeated,” Ncube said, without elaborating what his party will do to circumvent interference by military commanders who have openly declared their allegiance to Zanu PF.

Ncube ruled out a possibility of forming a united MDC with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, saying their differences were fundamental and still outstanding.

In an apparent attack on Tsvangirai, Ncube said: “I am not convinced that if we replace Mugabe, we will have an alternative that behaves differently from Mugabe. Why then should I join hands with such people to remove Mugabe?

“If you see a political party creating its own youth militia that beats up its own members then you want me to believe that when in power you will behave differently from Zanu PF,” queried Ncube.