Binali Yard Consolidate DCC Power for Parochial gain

by Samson Mussaraff correspondent

Moslem affiliated Mutare DCC Chairman Cde Binali Yard is tinkering with electoral processes in Mutare to gain mileage. The DCC Chairman who is called a 'chameleon' by some other Zanu PF loyalists is causing havoc in Mutare urban. Regardless of whether this is by neither obliviousness nor autocracy, this has left Zanu PF Mutare urban limping as it moves toward the Dangamvura Chikanga expected by-election. Binali, at one point, affirmed that Isau Mupfumi is the sole Zanu PF contender for Dangamvura Chikanga constituency and later goes on to introduce Clyde Jani and Gertrude Mutandi also into the race. The article will basically talk about the development as they unfurled to show and uncover the decay which made the ruling party slip each time elections are done under a similar circumstance.

Dangamvura Chikanga constituency fell vacant, on the 3^rd of April 2020, after the recalling of then-incumbent MDC Alliance MP Prosper Mutseyami who was recalled alongside Charlton Hwende, Thabita Khumalo, and Senator Lilian Timveous. The quartet has been recalled from the August house on the grounds that they had ceased representing the opposition party’s interests. They were recalled in terms of section 129(k) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

In the 2018 election, Zanu PF polled 9 856 votes against MDC A’s 32 381 votes. The question now is can Zanu Pf manage to close the gap? The answer is yes no! Yes in the sense that if Zanu PF mends its weaknesses it is possible to grab the seat and NO in the sense that there is more to factionalism than losing in this election. If Zanu PF members continue to fight each other in the province, let them not dream of snatching the seat. Is Isau Mupfumi that bad…NO. So why is he losing it? Having followed all the events closely, the author managed to identify key areas which led to the demise of Isau Mupfumi. Will begin by looking into each candidate who is vying for the seat and why he can bring the seat to the party all things being equal. In 2018, 9 candidates were competing for the seat and the 7 failed to impress.

Clyde Jani (commonly known as CJ) is a Mutare businessman who is known for his flamboyant life in the city. However, residents associate him with a chain of criminal activities. It is well known Jani was arrested and convicted between 2012 and 2016 facing assault, robbery, and malicious damage to property. Having this in mind, residents are afraid of giving their votes to a hooligan with a criminal record. But is Jani not aware of his past, that he might be blocked by the party’s commissariat on vetting because of his criminal record? Obvious he is away. So why is he in the picture? To spoil the part (kudira jecha) for Isau only that’s the answer. People in Mutare won’t vote for Jani because of his immature behavior and his criminal record.

Gertrude Mutandi is a female businesswoman as well and she runs a successful business in Mutare. Her only problem is her foul mouth. She thinks money can buy her everything. She brags a lot that she was the only person who facilitated the president’s escape to Mozambique in 2017. If this is true then she is a warrior who must be voted into office. One of the most respected clergyman in Manicaland who was asked to comment on Gertrude's eligibility to represent Dangamvura Chikanga. The clergyman laughed and said God will not associate his people with people of Gertrude's caliber. She is full of herself and pulls anyone down so that she may shine. Considering the tight race, Getrude may do but a man can do better since it needs resilience in the process.

Isau Mupfumi, who once won the seat, is a Mutare business mogul who runs a fleet of buses in Zimbabwe. He is a philanthropist who was rewarded with an Honorary Doctorate degree for his charity works around the country. …But Isau Mupfumi lost to MDC before, why returning him? First, when the seat was declared vacant the Zanu PF commissariat asked its members who were interested to contest in the by-election to forward their CVs for vetting. It is known and said no one tendered his/her CV. The then National PC Cde Matemadanda addressed the issue with the Manicaland Provincial leaders until civic organizations and respected clergyman in the Province persuaded Dr. Isau Mupfumi to represent the party.

Secondly, Dangamvura Chikanga requires lawmakers with good management skills. Isau Mupfumi has got enough resources to stand in without being manipulated or bribed by corruptors to steal from the poor. Incompetent representatives only served their interests and ignore the electorates. People must be represented by a concerned leader, not poor people who are after embezzling funds. A poor person can be corrupted or led into corruption as he wants to amass wealth.

Third and lastly, Dr. Mupfumi is connected through his vast philanthropic experiences. He has donor influence and knowledge of governance which is required when one is in a leading position. When he joined Parly in 2017, he made sure several projects sailed through. He has a helping hand and surely changes the life of the people of Mutare.

When Dr Mupfumi accepted the offer and tendered his CV, technically, the by-elections were bypassed since no one had shown interest in the constituency.  The National PC then wrote to Zanu PF Manicaland Provincial Chair Cde Madiro confirming that the party’s only candidate for Dangamvura Chikanga is Isau Mupfumi. This was so because the window period had closed for primaries.

After his endorsement, the DCC chairman also endorsed Dr. Mupfumi, and o the 16^th of February 2021 Cde Binali wrote a letter to Clyde Jani informing him of this position thereby closing the door for him.  It is only in Mutare Urban where a DCC chairman causes confusion in the area he superintends. Cde Binali behaves like a lone ranger in the DCC executive. He doesn’t have time to consult other executive members. Since his coming in there is turmoil in Mutare as he rescinds his decisions and self-amend. When the registration process for vetting of war collaborators began he went on a begging spree, single-handedly, to raise money for the registration team. He then announced on several Zanu PF groups that he managed to secure a sponsor who happened to be Clyde Jani. When he announced this, his intention was to frustrate and shame other potential sponsors who then set back thinking everything was well. Surprisingly the process began with no funds and the registration team was stranded for three days until they turned to Hon Dr. Mupfumi. Binali was called and he was confronted until he called CJ in the presence of Hon Mupfumi. Finally, CDE Jani paid up the little he had.

Other DCC Chair who include Cdes Nyakuedzwa,Chimombe,Mhaka, Parirenyatwa, Muchuwa, Ziwiwi, and Sithole are promoting unity in their districts while Cde Binali is dividing the party. Following his confirmation of Dr. Mupfumi to the Constituency, Cde Binali then wrote another letter to Acting National PC informing him that there were no by-elections contacted conducted in Dangamvura Chikanga. Binali then introduced Jani and Mutandi into the race thereby confusing the leadership and the electorates. His letter followed a letter by Cde Chinamasa which was addressed to ALL Provincial Chairman to receive CVs for aspiring candidates when they are still to conduct primary elections. Technically, the letter by Cde Chinamasa did not suspend or invalidate Cde Mupfumi’s candidature as the sole representative of Zanu PF’s Dangamvura Chikanga constituency. The Constituency was not included since it already has a candidate but Binali wrote a letter, without a reference/subject to Cde Chinamasa on the 5^th of July, advising him that there was no by-election in Dangamvura Chikanga. So far Binali wrote several letters contradicting himself and he is doing that alone ignoring the whole DCC executive.

So who is working against Zanu PF in Mutare?

Besides the DCC Chair Binali Yard, there are several people with the agenda of dividing the votes.it also happened in 2018. These people are the handlers of Binali Yard who they are using to cause divisions (fanning factionalism). Mupfumi mobilized supporters when no one stood against him. After all his efforts of bussing new supporters for registration someone just come in to demand a lion's share. Anyone who is not supporting Mupfumi’s candidature is an enemy of Zanu PF. No serious member will oppose the resolution of the party except part spoilers (Vabvonyongori). People are voting against Zanu PF because of frustration and factionalism.  Without factionalism, Zanu PF will beat MDC in Mutare. Gertrude Mutandi and Clyde Jani simply want to divide Muofumi’s support base so that he will lose against any opponent. It happened in Kwekwe a long time ago when the president was a Zanu PF Candidate for Kwekwe Central. Two Zanu PF faithful Rtrd Col Makombe (late) and Rtrd Brig. Gen Mabenge stood against the president and they divided the party which to the president to lose to Blessing Chebundo. The likes of Mugabe, Tsvangirai, Musara, and Johnson Mawere tried to counsel the two but it worked against the party. When the two left it was obvious Zanu PF reclaimed victory in the city.

People are concerned as to how long the powers that be will continue to look at Binali’s actions which leading Zanu PF into the dustbins. If the commissariat is serious about 5million votes then Binali must be put to order as soon as yesterday.  No one is bigger than the party. When Binali is disciplined it will be easier to see his handlers.