The political undertones of the Dynamos and CAPS United fans' novel alliance

By Nigel Nyamutumbu

HARARE – It is inherently human to be biased.

What informs human biases is subject to scholarly debates across behavioral studies, among them sociology and psychology.

This is no wonder why in any contest with ultimate victors, human beings are inclined to take sides.

Sport rivalry is a typical example of how human beings are emotive, openly aligned and have categorical preferences.

Historical football rivalries in Zimbabwe have predominantly been across the blue-and-green divide in the capital Harare between Dynamos and CAPS United as well as the Dynamos versus Highlanders battle for supremacy at national level.

The former is easily the biggest Harare Derby fixture while the latter, arguably the biggest fixture in the country.

These three biggest football brands in the country are more than just teams. They represent the hearts and souls of football in the country.

Highlanders is known to be a culture, a way of life. Dynamos pride themselves as the “seven million fans” club on account of how most Zimbabwean were supposedly DeMbare fans at a time when the country's population was still growing. Now the country's population is more than double.

But even then, claims of seven million supporters makes DeMbare a critical national institution beyond football.

Makepekepe are traditionally the Cup Kings, whose claim to the national podium of football giants was anchored on knocking out teams in cup tournaments of past eras.

Then owned by the Manchester Road-based pharmaceutical company, CAPS Holdings, the club won the hearts and minds of this football crazy country due to its consistency and sustaining presence in among teams that challenge for honours.

The rivalry that exists among the teams finds expression in different ways. Sometimes – unfortunately so – violently.

DeMbare fans have always sworn that the two teams they “hate” the most are Bosso and Makepekepe.

"Timu mbiri chete dzandakavenga, Highlanders ne CAPS," the fans have traditionally sung.

And the hate is reciprocal. Using the old war adage that an enemy of an enemy is a friend, it was common cause that Caps United fans would support whichever team that plays against DeMbare. And the reverse is true.

This is why the latest alliance between Makepekepe and DeMbare fans is a subject of interest.

A famous rivalry of more than half a century has all of a sudden turned into a brotherhood and an alliance.

These past weeks, scenes of the two sets of fans celebrating each other' s brands have been awash, a topical discussion point on social media.

The dominant narrative has been that the two teams are safeguarding the legacies of the traditional giants from the emerging cash-rich football clubs.

Scottland FC, owned by one of the country's biggest gold dealers, have been targeted the most. Their sin? Bullying the market in pursuit of quality players, and the brazen display of wealth.

Scottland FC is owned by Zanu-PF MP Scott Sakupwanya, and one of the club’s benefactors is none other than Wicknell Chivayo, self-proclaimed billionaire and Zanu-PF supporter.

It is no wonder the build up to the rare alliance of DeMbare and CAPS fans began with the remixed song "mbinga mbiri chete dzandakavenga Chivayo na Scott," by the Kepekepe fans.

Mbinga is a euphemism for the rich, pompous and famous. For further context, Zimbabwean mbingas are normally connected with political power, specifically the ruling Zanu-PF party.

Another song from the CAPS United fans, "hatimbochema bhora ratengwa" upon their loss to Scottland provides an interesting insight into the psyche of the Makepekepe faithful

The song simply insinuated that the wealthy club had used its financial muscle to fix the match, hence there was no reason to mourn the loss.

The current owner of CAPS United is a ruling party MP, just like Sakupwanya.

There is therefore logic that the financially superior Scott Sakupwanya had a significant impact over the turn of events.

DeMbare, who though receive donations from the same "mbingas", are weaker and therefore logically a poorer cousin worth aligning with.

The alliance is thus a struggle of the poor against the rich. Typical Karl Marx class struggle of the haves and have nots.

It is an open opposition to this brazen show of financial prowess, at the expense of the poor.

I think deep down, the rivalry remains in force as it is inherently human to have such biases.

In the same manner Manchester United and Manchester City are eternal rivals, or closer to home, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in South Africa.

Or in the case of the DeMbare and Bosso clashing this weekend in the Zim PSL.

The alliance between DeMbare and CAPS fans all but has political connotations. A struggle of the poor and downtrodden against the rich. And perhaps a quest for justice and fair distribution of resources.

*Nyamutumbu is a media development practitioner based in Harare. He can be contacted on njnya2@gmail.com or +263 772 501 557.