Political Reporter

The Zimbabwe Democracy Institute, an anti-government organisation led by University of Zimbabwe lecturer, Dr Pedzisayi Ruhanya is in dire financial need and is now appealing for financial rants to fund its programmes ahead of this year’s elections

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A source who spoke to this publication said that Ruhanya, the ZDI director has approached the American Embassy in Harare asking for a grant to finance its political activities.

“ZDI is broke and it’s Director, Pedzisayi Ruhanya has been moving with a begging bowel asking for a financial grant from Western embassies. Ruhanya is telling Western embassies that his organisation plays an instrumental role in bringing regime change in Zimbabwe, hence it should be financially supported,” said the source.

According to the source, the American Embassy told Ruhanya that he should provide a report on how previous grants availed to ZDI were used. Ruhanya has since roped in one Bekezela Gumbo to assist him in writing the report and producing a financial proposal to be submitted to the American Embassy before 10 February 2023.

The source added that Ruhanya wants to use the grant to finance his anti-government activities and finance his election campaign as he is eyeing the Zengeza East constituency under the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) ticket.

“Ruhanya wants to use the funds to sponsor his election campaign as he is eyeing the Zengeza East constituency .He also wants to use some of the funds to finance his anti-government activities ahead of the forthcoming elections,” said the source.

The source further said that Ruhanya has been going around Zengeza East constituency telling people that the incumbent legislator, Goodrich Chimbaira  was weak, ineffective and uneducated hence he should be removed.

Efforts to get a comment from Ruhanya were futile as his mobile phones were not reachable.