WorldRemit donates to Harare Girl conned by thieves
- From losing $162 to getting $650
- WorldRemit matches donation by Nehanda Radio readers
By Lance Guma
LONDON – International money transfer agency WorldRemit has today donated a further $325 (£225) towards the 19-year-old girl who lost her money (meant for school fees) to a gang of conmen in Harare a few months ago.
WorldRemit is an online service that lets people send money to friends and family living abroad, using a computer, smartphone or tablet.
Catherine Wines, the Chief Operating Officer said they had decided to match the money raised by our readers last week.
“We were really touched by this story so we’ve decided to match the donations received so far. Everyone at WorldRemit wishes this young woman all the best with her studies,” she said.
After the plight of the girl was highlighted on Nehanda TV, the team at Nehanda Radio started a GoFundMe appeal that was able to raise $325 through the generosity of our listeners, readers and viewers.
According to a citizen reporter who filmed the video, the young woman, in a scam known as “Chadonha” was promised a job and told to put her own money in an envelop so that it would not be mixed up with company money.
When she got the envelope back, it contained worthless tissue papers.
So while the girl lost $162 to the thieves we raised double that. Add the generous gesture by WorldRemit, the money this girl has now received totals $650.
The name of the girl has been withheld at the request of the parents who have expressed reservations on the publicity this would bring to their family.
“After seeing the video, my heart ached in me. I didn’t know she cried that much and I am sure that’s why many people were touched,” the father told us in an interview.
The following people and organisations played a key role in making this appeal a success.
WorldRemit, Danayi Gombera, Chipo Karonga, Mairos Kambarame, Violet Ben, Majaira Jairos, Baba Shami, Joseph Nyamnjiva, Richard Kachecha, Zimbo Live TV and many others who chose to remain anonymous or used aliases.
Watch the heart-breaking moment the girl realised she had been conned
This is the second appeal run by Nehanda Radio.
In March 2013, we published an appeal to Zimbabweans mainly in the UK to rally round and help Godfrey Karonga and his family acquire a V3 machine for his 13-year-old son Tinashe Karonga.
Tinashe suffered brain damage that left him paralysed. Physiotherapy specialists advised the family that a V3 machine would work on Tinashe’s veins and help improve his condition. The family needed about US$1200 to buy this machine.
Through the generosity of our readers who contributed, not only did we buy the machine but we surpassed the target and were able to give the family the balance in cash.
US$1713.10 was wired to Zimbabwe from the UK using World Remit. Our team on the ground bought the Karonga family a V3 machine for US$1200 from Ceragem Zimbabwe.
Pictures from the presentation of the V3 machine
