Dangamvura a political hotbed

WITH more than 59 000 registered voters, in political circles Chi kan ga Dan gamvu ra has been renamed the UzumbaMaramba-Pfungwe of Manicaland.

OVER the years, Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe has had arguably the highest voter turnout in national plebiscites. On the other hand, Chikanga-Dangamvura has emerged as the biggest constituency in Manicaland’s political landscape.

In 2013, the constituency had 30 680 registered voters, but the figure jumped to more than 59 000 in the 2018 harmonised elections.

The constituency consists of 10 wards (six, seven, eight, nine, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19) of City of Mutare.

However, while the constituency has the highest number of registered voters in the province, it is one of the most orphaned constituencies in the country since its creation before the 2008 harmonised elections.

Four legislators — Mr Giles Mutsekwa (MDC-T), Mr Arnold Tsunga (MDC-T, was later recalled from Parliament after crossing the floor to join a splinter United Movement for Democratic Change), Cde Isau Mupfumi (Zanu-PF) and Mr Prosper Mutseyami (MDC Alliance, was recently recalled by MDC-T) — have taken turns to represent the relatively young constituency.

Over the past 12 years, the constituency has been the proverbial grass which suffers when political elephants, mostly from the ever volatile opposition MDC-T, fight.

Residents have always been at the receiving end as they have to endure longer periods without a representative in the National Assembly, thereby leaving them at the mercy of land barons who are feasting on the confusion.

This has resulted in the emergence of the Federation and Gimboki areas in Dangamvura, where the provision of basic social amenities have remained a pipeline dream.

In 2013, MDC-T’s Messrs Tsunga and Mutsekwa as well as Zanu-PF’s Cde Mike Duru battled for the constituency. Mr Tsunga emerged as the winner.

Barely two years later, the constituency was orphaned after Mr Tsunga was expelled from Parliament as the opposition political tomfoolery came into play, with the MDC-T splitting and giving birth to the short-lived United Movement for Democratic Change.

As the MDC-T’s legislators were recalled from the National Assembly, by-elections were held in 14 constituencies across the country.

The intriguing Chikanga-Dangamvura political drama saw eight candidates — three of them independent — battling it out for the vacant seat.

Zanu-PF, through its candidate Cde Mupfumi, romped to victory after defeating Mr Pfugamai Mawire (Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn), Gashirai Piwai (Freedom Party), Maxwell Tedzai (Transform Zimbabwe, withdrew on the 11th hour), independent candidates Chengetai Richard Kadzere, James Mundenda and Kuziva Maundike.

The year 2018 saw MDC Alliance’s Mr Mutseyami dumping his Musikavanhu constituency fortress in Chipinge to contest in the elections. He emerged the winner.

However, history has repeated itself once again as barely two years after being voted into office, Mr Mutseyami found himself in the political wilderness after being recalled by the Dr Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T.

The party is arguing that Mr Mutseyami

was seconded to the MDC Alliance by MDC-T.

Following the recall, it is back to the drawing board.

Once again, residents of these two high-density suburbs have no representative in the National Assembly.

Zanu-PF provincial chairman, Cde Mike Madiro said the ruling party is closely monitoring developments unfolding in the constituency.

“We are analysing the situation on the ground and if a by-election is called, we will seize that opportunity to reclaim the seat. Residents need proper representation and should not be victims of political fights of power hungry individuals.

“Dangamvura is saddled with a lot of challenges that need mature leaders to tackle them head-on. We cannot rush to pre-empt our strategies, but I can assure you that we are ready to be in the race and give the opposition a good run for their money. We want to rescue residents from this political madness threatening their well-being,” said Cde Madiro.

Prominent Mutare lawyer, Mr Passmore Nyakureba of Maunga-Maanda Legal Practitioners, said residents have been victims of MDC-T’s internal instability for a long time and deserve a break.

“The 2015 political drama is unfolding again and as usual, residents are now at the mercy of politicians who are taking their dog fight to them. While Covid-19 is wreaking havoc across the world and claiming lives, we have these unending political fights that are leaving people without a voice in the August House.

“This constituency has been in the news for the wrong reasons for a long time, especially with regards to opposition politics. This has been prejudicing residents of their right to have a representative at national level. It has created instability and there is need for someone, a legislator, to help in co-ordinating all activities.

“We should take a leaf from some constituencies where legislators are leading from the front in the Covid-19 fight. With water woes haunting most areas in Mutare, who will engage the local authority and other development partners to find a lasting solution when there is a missing link in the National Assembly?” said Mr Nyakureba.

United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Trust (UMRRT) programmes director, Mr Edson Dube, urged politicians to give the constituency a chance to develop.

“When we talk about the Chikanga-Dangamvura Constituency, this is Manicaland’s biggest constituency in terms of population density. It appears as if politicians are happy to see it burning without any meaningful development taking place. This is one of the constituencies with the highest numbers of housing co-operatives. Land barons there have been having a field day reaping-off desperate home-seekers.

“Residents need basic social amenities like water supplies. We have a health time bomb ticking in that constituency while power struggles go on. This constituency needs a chance to develop into a modern urban settlement,” he said.

A Dangamvura resident, Mr Clifford Majoni, said the continuous recall of legislators is retarding development.

“We cannot continue to be in election mode. We need a legislator who has the electorate at heart. He or she should be able to represent us in Parliament and should not have any selfish agendas.

‘‘The fights in the MDC show that there are power struggles in that. It is also clear they are fighting for financial gains.

“We are losing out on some of the Government-initiated programmes because no-one is representing us. We cannot continue relying on ‘foster’ representations,” he fumed.