‘Boko Haram’ in Mbare?

By Maggie Mzumara

HARARE – A terror outfit nicknamed “Boko Haram” has emerged among the youths within the ruling ZANU-PF party in Mbare, one of Harare’s oldest high density suburbs.

Although no one could come out and claim membership or leadership of the terror group, sources told the Financial Gazette that the outfit is making several demands, among them the elevation of what is referred to as Generation 40 or “Young Turks” in ZANU-PF.

They said the “Boko Haram” was a ZANU-PF factional creation, believed to be an answer or rival group to the shadowy Chipangano, which, for years had terrorised residents in Mbare.

It is believed that although the group has found stronger expression in Mbare, historically a hotbed of township politics, the outfit, however, originated from Mashonaland Central province where it started by agitating for the ascendance of youths in the party, putting forward the agenda of the so-called Generation 40.

While the promotion of the “Young Turks” appears to have been the initial agenda, over time the group has taken on other agenda amongst them fighting for the elevation of members of a certain ZANU-PF faction. Sources say ahead of the youth conference, the “Boko Haram” was more active than ever.

Although the Financial Gazette was unable to independently verify them, there are claims that ahead of the youth conference, the group abducted some members of the party in a bid to influence them to vote for certain candidates.

It is, apparently, the alleged abductions which gave the group the nickname, “Boko Haram” in apparent comparison to the notorious Nigerian group by the same name which has kidnapped hundreds of people including hapless school girls in the northern part of Nigeria, where dissension has risen to alarming levels.

“They plot and strategise to meet their goals and they use the youth,” a source said of the “Boko Haram” in Mbare. “Of late they have been working to discredit and victimise others within the party saying they do not want the First Lady’s entrance into mainstream politics,” the source said. “It is a group with very bad intentions.” Although no direct confrontations have been noted as yet, the group is said to be a counter to Chipangano.

However, alleged leader of the Chipangano terror group, former Harare province ZANU-PF youth chairperson, Jim Kunaka, denied knowing anything about the group. But this is nothing new. He has in the past also denied any knowledge of Chipangano itself. “I do not know anything about any ‘Boko Haram’ in Mbare, the only Boko Haram I know is the one I read about in the papers which is in Nigeria,” Kunaka said.

“In any case, I can’t comment about anything really, because as a party we have instructions not to discuss party business with the press. If I was cleared to speak I could tell you my own opinion of things, but as it stands I have nothing to say and no knowledge of any ‘Boko Haram’ group,” he said.

Mbare has been home to much politicking from way before independence. Many nationalists were resident there before independence, and many a meeting to strategise on reclaiming the country for black people took place in Mbare as well as in Highfield another political hotbed close by. Financial Gazette