Clever Bere: Who is Who in Zimbabwe

News — By admin on February 14, 2010 2:49 am

Cde Clever ‘Dada’ Tapiwa Bere

The last edition of our Who is Who? ZINASU Presidents 1997-2010 series is the profile of outspoken, candid student leader Clever ‘Dada’ Tapiwa Bere. The profile was supposed to be published before the bi-annual congress in Chinhoyi.

Born in the urban town of Chitungwiza, in 1985, Bere started his primary education at Glenview 1 school in Harare in the year 1991to 1994 and then proceeded to the rural areas of Seke where he completed his primary education at Chitsvedemo primary school.

He did his secondary school studies at Zengeza 3 high school where he completed the same studies. Having scored with good grades, Bere proceeded to Seke 1 high for his Advanced level studies from 2002 to 2003. 

The man could not wait any longer after passing his Advanced levels with lustrous grades. This saw him enrolled at the reputable National University of Science and Technology (NUST) where he at first enrolled for the BSc Degree in Architecture before switching to a BSc Degree in Quantity Surveying in 2005.

Because of his perspicacity in articulating the students’ issues and their concerns, coupled with his bravery and joie de vivre evidenced in numerous arrests at the hands of state security agents, he became the personification of hope to thousands of the suffering students at NUST. This led him to be elected President of the NUST Students’ Representative Council in 2006, the year which many believe Bere’s political virginity was lost.

However given the brutal and ruthless nature of the administration, Bere did not survive his tenure from the merciless arm of suspensions as he was booted out of the university in 2007 October for standing firm and resolute in defending the students in the face of a vile and heinous regime of ZANU PF. He has since been reinstated at NUST. 

As a general councilor of ZINASU, Bere became popular with the masses of students across institutional diversity, from universities to other colleges for his articulacy of student issues and concerns. He led in numerous demonstrations against dictatorship, youth marginalization and in particular, suppression of academic freedoms.

His life became punctuated by unlawful arrests and victimizations by the state for working with the then opposition MDC and was treated as an agent of regime change. This earned him respect from the students who at the occasion of the 6th ZINASU Bi- Annual Congress of 2008 January, held at the River of life Church in Harare, elected him to lead the entire students’ union in the capacity of its President, succeeding the slippery Promise Mkwananzi. 

He was elected together with Vice President Brilliant Dube, Secretary General Lovemore Chinoputsa (expelled and replaced by cde Freeman Bhoso), Treasurer Themba Maphenduka (left and succeeded by Sheunesu Nyoni), Spokesperson Blessing Vava, International Relations Secretary Chiedza Gadzirayi, Legal Secretary Courage Ngwarai, Education and Research Freeman Bhoso (elevated to the post of Secretary General and replaced by Obert Masaraure), Sports Secretary Lydia Mudehwe and Gender Secretary Privilege Mutanga. 

 The journey of long miles had just begun. Bere, in his acceptance speech stated categorically and unequivocally clear that his primary duty was to defend the congress resolutions which stood as guidelines to all the executive members and general councilors in the execution of their mandatory duties.

Some of the chief resolutions were that students were tasked to mobilize their constituencies so that they would vote for the MDC-T as a democratic alternative in the harmonized elections of March 2008 and standing firm in the fight for a genuine people driven constitution.  

He represented ZINASU on several boards including the SST, ZESN, NCA, ZIHISSU, and Crisis Coalition among other organizations and is actively involved in the World Youth Movement for Democracy. The much travelled student leader represented ZINASU at many international platforms including the World Justice Project in Vienna November 2009, IsFiT Norway 2008, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, United Kingdom, Thailand and various other platforms. 

As ZINASU leader, Bere faced persecution both from ZANU PF and some so-called human rights activist and proponents of democracy chiefly for his principled stance in defending the interests and aspirations of the students that he led.

It was this time that he had to fight a corrupt and unjust system that had been created in the students’ mother body mainly by Arnold Tsunga and Jacob Mafume who wanted to remote control, influence decisions, which directly or indirectly undermined the elected political arm of the union and thereby diverting them from dealing with the real issues that were affecting the students.

At one time Mafume then USAID employee threatened to put the ZINASU leader on the US sanctions list after Bere had defied directives from him. The pint sized embattled lawyer said to Bere then in 2008, ‘’Bere, Bere, Bere, you will be the youngest person to be on the US sanctions list,’’Mafume said in 2008.

On the same day former secretary general Lovemore Chinoputsa was also a victim of Mafume’s bully and intimidating tactics, Mafume  said to the young Chinoputsa, ‘’Chinoputsa, Chinoputsa, Chinoputsa, how many things have I done for you?’’ The statements were meant to cow the students’ leaders into submission after a dispute over the employment of a certain female believed to be mysteriously linked to Mafume.

The lady had been unprocedurally employed and imposed to ZINASU by Mafume without the knowledge and approval of the National Executive Council. For the record Bere’s continued reference to Mafume was not an obsession but because Mafume is the author and architect of the mess and confusion that is shrouding the students mother body.

On occasions Bere would remind comrades that ZINASU is not a non government organization but a mass based grass roots social movement which is of intellectual orientation. 

However I wouldn’t’ be earnest enough if I miss to communicate that Bere did not oppose the realistic need for a secretariat in ZINASU. Rather the man worked tirelessly to institute a secretariat that is transparent, responsible and accountable and that which respects and complement the NEC in the execution of Congress and General Council resolutions. 

Equally Clever Bere will be remembered in the history of all students’ leaders as one of the Loyal Sons of the ZINASU who fits in the same shoes of founding President the late Learnmore Judah Jongwe, the charismatic Hopewell ‘Musavhaya’ Gumbo, the courageous  Nkululeko Mkastos Sibanda, the enigmatic Philan ‘Prez1’ Zamchiya, the slippery Promise ‘Nyaningwe’ Mkwananzi among others who sacrificed immensely for the union and stood with the position of the union(congress resolutions) in the face of temptation from money and material benefits by those that still wanted to direct the union to their agendas.

In moments like these Bere would in his philosophical nature tell his friends that  “it would be treasonous if I were to abandon the congress resolutions. Abandoning the voice of the union ,history would never forgive me,’’such was the level of his servant hood to his beloved union. The man strengthened ZINASU from being vulnerable to those who use money to corrupt cadres of the movement.

He goes down  memory lane as one of the few among ZINASU presidents who deepened ideological clarity and opened space for vibrant and robust debate in efforts to strengthen the ties between the working class people, students and other social movements in their common fight against neo-liberal policies of the government that are anti-poor. 

 He mesmerised crowds at most MDC rallies countrywide and at one time got into trouble with state security agents after he had delivered a powerful and emotional speech at the funeral of Amai Susan Tsvangirai at Glanis Arena in March 2009.At the funeral Bere clearly stated that Amai Tsvangirai’s death was nowhere near to an accident, but that it was politically motivated.

He suggested  that an independent commission of inquiry should be instigated to look into the deaths of other revolutionaries namely Josiah Magama Tongogara, Lookout Masuku, Learnmore Jongwe and lately Amai Susan Tsvangirai, who all died under unclear and mysterious circumstances.  

I would not have the Union any good if I were to leave the President’s journey towards restoring sanity and smoothening the union was not an easy task as he created a lot of enemies culminating into an attempt on his life and that of the former  Press Secretary Vava widely believed to have been spearheaded and funded by the Mafume and Denis Murira conspiracy.

Since then the life of Bere as ZINASU President has been punctuated by threats even from those whom  used to be his comrades in arms, chiefly for remaining steadfast on principle especially in regard to his firmness in fighting for a genuine people driven constitutional reform process and defending the students position in the fight for academic freedoms. 

Bere faced numerous challenges from those who have been bent on destroying the union and intending to reduce it into a pendulum of certain political parties or a quasi-paramilitary group of the same.

These people have made attempts to divide the union and weaken it by funding shuttle ‘congresses’ and non-assuming nonentities to run parallel structures in the name of the union of students for the political convenience of some leaders in the broader democratic alliance. However the astuteness of the man and his political acumenship has survived the union against all odds. 

His personal friend seems to be yours truly(former ZINASU Spokesperson Blessing Vava), whom he has been staying with for the past five years, the two were nicknamed  ‘ZINASU twins‘ by ‘Mudara Nyathi,’ father to the 5th ZINASU President Promise Mkwananzi  at a Christmas party at the Mkwananzi residence in Bulawayo in 2006.Bere was the SRC President at NUST, the same time Blessing Vava served as President at Bulawayo Polytechnic. 

 When asked about his advisors, the man pointed out that his greatest advisor was Jesus Christ but also mentioned the colorful former NUST SRC President Benjamin ‘Nyamasvisva’ Nyandoro whom he says he has a lot of respect for. On the relationship front, Bere is in a steady relationship and recently engaged with his girlfriend Patience Chibanda, whom he has been dating for the past three years. 

He says his most memorable experience as a student leader was when he chaired the historic 7th National Bi-Annual Congress of ZINASU on the 29-31st of January 2010. “It was a painful experience as it was my last moment as a student leader, but I am however happy that I served the union selflessly,’’he said. He was succeeded by the firebrand University of Zimbabwe student Tafadzwa ‘Twoboy’ Mugwadi, who became the 7th ZINASU President. 

On several occasions when under pressure Bere quickly loses his temper, a weakness that he accepts he has to deal with. Like all his predecessors Bere is a non smoker but an avid drinker of opaque beer (Chibuku) and likes hanging around at the popular beer garden Machokoto in GlenView One High Density suburbs. 

Profile complied and written by Cde Blessing ‘Vuvuzela’ Vava

Former National Spokesperson

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