Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has been forced to publicly defend his treatment of political activist Godfrey Karembera, popularly known as Madzibaba veShanduko, after former MDC provincial chairman Julius Magarangoma accused opposition leaders of exploiting activists for publicity while abandoning them in times of need.
The dispute erupted after prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono launched a fundraising campaign to assist Karembera, who is reportedly facing severe financial difficulties following his release from prison.
Karembera spent more than eight months in detention before being acquitted of public violence charges earlier this month.
Announcing the campaign on X, Chin’ono said Karembera was struggling to pay school fees for his children and support his family after his home was destroyed by fire during his incarceration.
“He is facing serious financial difficulties and is struggling to pay his children’s school fees and provide for their basic upkeep,” Chin’ono wrote.
I received a call from MadziBaba VeShanduko. He is facing serious financial difficulties and is struggling to pay his children’s school fees and provide for their basic upkeep.
His home was burnt down, and he spent eight months in prison for a political crime he did not commit…
— Hopewell Chin’ono (@daddyhope) June 16, 2026
The appeal prompted a sharp response from Magarangoma, who appeared to take aim at Chamisa without mentioning him by name.
“They will rush to receive you when you are released from prison so that they can have a photo-moment at your expense,” Magarangoma wrote on social media.
“In the meantime they never lifted a finger to help you or your family whilst you were incarcerated.”
He further suggested that activists often discover they have been used for political purposes only after their sacrifices are no longer useful.
“You then turn to the likes of Hopewell Chin’ono for help. You become Hopewell’s burden, yet those you profess allegiance to and swear to die for, are nowhere to be found,” he said.
The criticism comes just weeks after Chamisa publicly welcomed Karembera and his family to his offices in Harare following his release from prison.
At the time, Chamisa described him as a “Citizens’ Hero” and praised his commitment to the struggle for political change.
However, the meeting had already attracted criticism from some activists and supporters who questioned why Chamisa had not publicly visited or spoken out more forcefully during Karembera’s lengthy detention.
Responding to the growing controversy, an X account identifying itself as the Presidential Spokesperson issued a detailed statement defending Chamisa and rejecting claims that Karembera had been abandoned.
“There has been a deliberate attempt to mislead the nation through false reports and unnecessary misinformation surrounding the solidarity extended to Madzibaba during his persecution and incarceration,” the statement said.
According to the statement, Karembera and his family personally requested the meeting with Chamisa after his release and asked for photographs to be taken as a way of preserving memories and expressing appreciation for support received during his imprisonment.
The statement further claimed that coordinated assistance had been provided throughout Karembera’s detention.
“Claims that there was no coordinated citizens’ support are false and misleading. Welfare assistance was provided, including rental payments and support towards the schooling of his children,” it said.
The Chamisa camp also insisted that assistance provided to citizens in distress is not publicised because helping people should not be treated as a public relations exercise.
“The Citizens Movement does not publicise acts of assistance because helping people is not a public relations exercise,” the statement added.
The controversy has reignited debate within opposition circles over how political activists are supported when they face arrest, imprisonment or other hardships linked to their activism.
Karembera became a prominent figure within opposition politics through his outspoken support for Chamisa and the citizens’ movement.
His detention and eventual acquittal attracted significant public attention and made him a symbol of political persecution for many opposition supporters.
While the fundraising campaign continues, the public disagreement has exposed growing tensions over welfare, solidarity and accountability within Zimbabwe’s opposition movement.
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