By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |
Several people allegedly took advantage of Lynda Masarira’s long stay in prison to make money in the name of fundraising for her.
And Masarira, who spent some two months in prison, only getting bail at the High Court recently for allegedly causing public violence during protests, is bitter about it.
“There are plenty of people out there who have seen a chance to make lots of money by pretending to be supporting me through fundraising. These people are shameless cheats and they must be exposed,” Masarira, a mother of five, told Nehanda Radio on Tuesday.
She said she would name the culprits in due course, adding that she had received numerous calls from “people of integrity” who had information about how the individuals had conned well-wishers out of the money raised to purportedly support her stay in prison and look after her children.
“There are numerous people who have asked me to meet them one-on-one. Some of them told me that they raised money and surrendered it to named close people who lied they would give the money to my family,” she added.
The money disappeared into thin air as three of her four school-going children have not yet paid their school fees, which the culprits collected from genuine fundraisers for that purpose.
She saluted a colleague, Bridget Nyandoro, who she said had been honest enough to take to her family money from fundraisers that was used to pay her first born child’s high school fees.
“Look here, my struggle against dictatorship is not motivated by money. I am a firm believer in democracy and respect for human rights. I am doing what many Zimbabweans won’t come out to do and that’s not for money.
“I never asked anyone for money during my time in prison. I went there without a cent and I am still without a cent. I am not bitter about the diverted money, but the fact that there are dishonest people out there making dirty money against my name,” said Masarira.
She said she first learnt of the con artists in June when she was arrested for peacefully protesting against President Robert Mugabe’s government, “but I pretended as If I didn’t know”.
Masarira spent probably the longest period in prison among civil activists who have been demonstrating against the government since June.
Nehanda Radio can confirm that two prominent former student leaders, UK based lawyer Tinomudaishe Chinyoka and Freeman Chari (United States) raised money for Masarira via GoFundMe and sent all the money they received to Zimbabwe.
Both have provided documentary evidence to support sending the money.
We also understand an added complication was that Masarira has 5 children, two living in Harare and three in Mutare with a grandmother and maid. Chari sent money to the brother while Chinyoka sent money to Linda directly when she was released from prison.
Dr Nephat Shumba from Zimbabwe Without Borders (ZWB) said “We would like to place on record that we ran a Gofundme campaign led by our spokesperson Tinomudaishe Chinyoka.
“Unfortunately we only raised £220. This, less charges due to Gofundme, has been sent directly to Linda Masarira herself, and has been fully accounted for by Mr Tinomudaishe Chinyoka to both our group, Linda Masarira and the Gofundme website.” Nehanda Radio
