Lance Guma, a vocal opposition activist and editor of Nehanda.Com, has sharply criticized the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) for failing to meet a £5000 fundraising target set to refurbish Thomas Mapfumo’s rural home, which was destroyed by fire last year.
In a post on X [formerly Twitter], Guma expressed his frustration, revealing that only £85 had been raised in six months since he initiated the GoFundMe campaign in March 2024. He lamented the lack of support from opposition members, contrasting their inaction with their frequent criticisms of musicians accepting gifts from ZANU PF-aligned individuals like Wicknell Chivhayo.
Guma attributed the dismal fundraising response to donor fatigue, which he linked to the repeated misuse of funds by the opposition in the past. He highlighted several instances where funds raised under various initiatives were allegedly abused. These include funds mobilized for Nelson Chamisa’s 2018 electoral petition, financial support for Joana Mamombe, Cecelia Chimbiri, and Netsai Marova’s court cases, and the controversial 2021 bulletproof car fund for Chamisa, which raised approximately US$120,000 but has yet to account for how the funds were used. These scandals, according to Guma, have eroded trust and left many disillusioned about supporting opposition-led initiatives.
In his post, Guma accused opposition supporters of hypocrisy, criticizing them for condemning artists who have accepted gifts from ZANU PF-aligned figures while failing to assist those same artists in their times of need. He remarked that opposition members often focus on trivial matters like birthday messages while ignoring meaningful opportunities to give back. “Are we sending the message that we just enjoy seeing artists suffer and would rather laugh at them than help them?” Guma questioned, underscoring the moral inconsistency in the opposition’s stance.
The situation has also cast a light on ZANU PF’s ongoing efforts to support Zimbabwean artists, vulnerable citizens, and disaster victims. Unlike the opposition’s failures in mobilizing meaningful aid, ZANU PF has built a legacy of providing tangible assistance, reinforcing its position as a party that delivers support where it is most needed.
Guma’s criticism of the CCC raises pertinent questions about the priorities and effectiveness of opposition-led initiatives and whether they genuinely address the needs of their supporters and the broader community.
