Ruth Hwara’s tragic death leaves Zimbabweans concerned about where $100,000 in GoFundMe donations are going – ZimEye

By a Correspondent | ZimEye | In a tragic turn of events, Ruth Hwara, the kidney patient who was the focus of a controversial GoFundMe campaign, has died.

Her death came weeks after her family failed to provide them with crucial financial documents, including Mukuru's bank statements and account details, raising serious doubts about the whereabouts of over $100,000 meant to fund her life-saving surgery in India.

Ruth Hwara's story, which captured the attention of the Zimbabwean community and the wider diaspora, has now ended in sadness, overshadowed by a scandal over the misappropriation of funds. For over a year, a GoFundMe campaign raised significant sums of money with the express purpose of covering the cost of Ruth's kidney surgery in India. However, despite the large sum raised, Ruth was never brought to India for the surgery that could have potentially saved her life.

ZimEye news channel, which has been investigating the case for several months, has repeatedly demanded transparency from Ruth's family about how the funds were handled. These demands included requests for bank statements and Mukuru transfer receipts to shed light on how the money was managed and why it was not used for Ruth's medical treatment.

Unfortunately, these documents were never produced. The family's failure to provide financial records has only increased suspicions of embezzlement and mismanagement of the donated funds. The absence of these important documents leaves many unanswered questions about how the money was spent and whether Ruth ever had a chance to receive the treatment she so desperately needed.

In the weeks before her death, Ruth's condition deteriorated rapidly. Although considerable funds were made available, there is no evidence that any significant amount of the money was used to improve her medical care or secure her transportation to India. Instead, the funds appear to have disappeared without any clear explanation or accountability from those responsible for running the campaign.

The lack of transparency has sparked outrage among donors to the GoFundMe campaign, many of whom feel deceived and betrayed. One donor expressed his frustration to ZimEye: “We gave money to save a life, but instead we are left with nothing but grief and unanswered questions. The fact that Ruth never made it to India is unforgivable. We want to know where our money went.”

As the investigation continues, the focus will be on uncovering the truth about the missing funds. ZimEye remains determined to bring those responsible to justice and ensure that the full story about the fate of Ruth Hwara and the funds raised in her name comes to light.

Ruth's death marks the tragic end of a saga that should have brought hope and healing. Instead, it has become a cautionary tale about the dangers of financial mismanagement and the critical importance of transparency in charity campaigns. The Zimbabwean community mourns Ruth's passing and continues to seek justice for her and the donors who put their trust in a campaign that ultimately failed to deliver on its promises.

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