Chipangano leader dealt a blow

By Maggie Mzumara

The shadowy Mbare-based gangster style outfit, Chipangano, may have been dealt a blow after its purported leader Jim Kunaka lost in the recent ZANU-PF provincial elections, analysts intimated to the Financial Gazette this week.

Kunaka, former ZANU-PF Harare Province youth chairperson lost to one, Godfrey Gomwe (not related to the Anglo-American boss), in highly contested provincial elections held November 30.

Although Kunaka has denied knowing what Chipangano is, let alone being a leader of it, for years Mbare residents have complained of being terrorised by him and the shadowy gang.

Allegations levelled against Kunaka and Chipangano have included political harassment and violence against people of the opposition; demanding protection fees from vendors at the Harare City Council’s markets and; disturbances at kombi termini on the back of demands for money from kombi drivers and crew; among others.

He has also been fingered in a gun shooting incident, although no arrest has ever been meted out on him.

Although he denies perpetrating or sponsoring violence and intimidation against those viewed as members of the opposition parties, by his own admission Kunaka says, “During my term as chairperson of youths for Harare Province, I rescued people in my constituency who had gone to the Movement for Democratic Change.”

Although he refused to speak about his loss and the elections that brought it about, Kunaka was quick to say, “Ihondo dzemumba medu (it’s an internal party matter). As you know politics is a dirty game.”

Analyst, Trevor Maisiri, believes that Kunaka’s failure to bag the chairmanship of the provincial youth leadership for Harare is a blow to him and his followers, including the Chipangano group.

“It is quite a blow to him and his followers and group,” Maisiri said, adding that Kunaka’s loss could have been an indication that him and his followers were painting a picture the greater ZANU-PF may not have wanted to continue being associated with.

“If you look at the role that Chipangano had throughout the government of national unity — disturbing informal markets, extorting citizens, also trying to control kombi ranks — all that gave the group a very bad standing. That standing could have rubbed off on Kunaka causing him to lose. It is very possible that that discredited him,” Maisiri said.

MDC-T spokesperson for Harare Province, Obert Gutu, believes Kunaka’s losing will weaken Chipangano.

“Jim Kunaka was the face of political thuggery and intolerance in Harare Province. He was the face of the notorious terrorist group that calls itself Chipangano; a group of political malcontents and thugs who routinely brought misery to the residents of Mbare and the surrounding environs.

“The losing of Jim Kunaka in the recently held ZANU-PF provincial elections is cause for a massive celebration. It should mark the demise of Chipangano and the related politics of violence that were fronted by the likes of Kunaka. Put simply, the losing of Jim Kunaka was an early Christmas present for the peace-loving people of Harare in general and Mbare in particular,” Gutu said.

Analyst, Earnest Mudzengi, believes Kunaka’s loss could be because of party dynamics that failed him.

“Obviously this was a result of internal dynamics within ZANU-PF. He probably found himself on the other side of the ZANU-PF political divide. Or he could have become unpopular probably because of the cases to do with him,” Mudzengi says.

However, Mudzengi does not believe this could dent the Chipangano movement.

“We should not read anything about Chipangano the group in this. It was probably just internal ZANU-PF systems that made him lose,” Mudzengi says.

Alois Masepe, a political analyst, believes this is more of a blow on Kunaka than on Chipangano.

“Nothing changes for Chipangano. The group was there long before Kunaka came into power,” Masepe said, adding, “You have to understand that Chipangano is not a political animal. They are not even party youths per se. It is an economic grouping of foot soldiers who belong to the leader of the time. They are an outfit for hire who heed the directions of the highest bidder.”

According to Masepe, at the bidding of whoever the godfather of the group is, Chipangano can make or break someone.

“Chipangano could have been used to make Kunaka and it also could have been used to support someone else other than Kunaka this time around. Kunaka is only as powerful as the godfather wants him to be. And Kunaka will be affected economically because whatever he was gaining through Chipangano activities at the markets or wherever and however else they were making their money, he may not have access to any more. His political clout will also suffer a blow,” Masepe said.

Kunaka himself is hopeful opportunities and positions in other structures within ZANU-PF could be in the offing for him in the near future.

“Today you are the youth provincial chairperson, tomorrow you could be in the central committee. You never know. I got to my former position by working hard and I will rise again,” Kunaka says, adding that losing the recent elections is “now water under the bridge. I am a happy man… I did what I could for the party. Let us see what the new chairperson will do. We will help and support him for the betterment of the party.”

Although the Financial Gazette could not immediately reach Gomwe, the new ruling party youth chairperson for Harare Province, the hope is that he would not align himself with Chipangano.

“We hope the new chairperson neither rides on Chipangano nor impose himself on the outfit,” Maisiri said. Financial Gazette