The embattled Nelson Chamisa faction of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has once again courted controversy, this time through a dubious “presidential dinner gala” masquerading as a political fundraising event.
The so-called gala, fronted by the Hlatshwayo siblings, Gift and Gladys, is being marketed to businesspeople as a glamorous opportunity to “support democracy.” In reality, it is nothing more than a calculated ploy to line private pockets under the pretext of political mobilisation.
According to the event’s pricing structure, a platinum table costs an astonishing US$7,500, while gold tables go for US$3,500. Ordinary tables are priced between US$200 and US$2,000, all meant to “harvest” funds from unsuspecting supporters.
What makes this even more concerning is that the Chamisa faction currently has no formal party structures, no recognised leadership, and no audited accounts to show where such funds will go.
Businesspeople who participate are effectively funding individuals, not a legitimate political organisation.
This is not the first time Chamisa and his associates have been implicated in questionable financial dealings.
In 2021, the faction launched a GoFundMe campaign claiming to raise money for a bulletproof vehicle for Chamisa’s safety. The initiative reportedly collected around US$122,000 from well-meaning Zimbabweans in the diaspora.
However, the promised vehicle never materialised, and to date, no public accounting has been made of how the money was spent.
Similarly, during the 2023 harmonised elections, the faction was accused of mishandling US$6 million in campaign funds, which vanished without trace.
Since 2019, Chamisa’s so-called “presidential dinners” and similar fundraising gimmicks have produced no tangible outcomes for supporters or communities.
Despite repeated claims that such events would finance voter mobilisation, party infrastructure, or legal reforms, there is no evidence of any real progress. Instead, each event seems to end in confusion, infighting, and the quiet disappearance of money.
The latest dinner gala follows the same familiar script, grand promises, expensive tickets, and no accountability. Zimbabweans, particularly the business community, should see through this charade and protect themselves from being exploited.
With the opposition now fractured into multiple rival factions, this latest scheme only underscores the moral and organisational bankruptcy that has come to define the Chamisa camp.
The so-called presidential dinner is not about democracy or development. It is simply another cash grab from a faction that long ago lost its credibility.
