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By ZimEye Investigations | London, 30 October 2025 | A ZimEye investigation has unearthed a major financial and emotional exploitation scheme run under the name Matabeleland National Bereavement Fund (MNBF) — a UK-based association led by a fake university lecturer, that collects “sympathy contributions” from Zimbabwean diaspora members but allegedly denies payouts to genuine widows and bereaved families. Documents, interviews, and audio obtained by ZimEye show a pattern of systematic manipulation of records, forged membership dates, and refusal to disburse member funds — leaving grieving families destitute while organisers control the accounts. 💷 The Widow’s Ordeal Widow C, whose husband Titus died on 2 September 2025, says she was denied her rightful bereavement payout despite presenting all documentation, including a death certificate. “I joined the Society in good faith and contributed to four prior deaths,” Widow C wrote in a grievance letter seen by ZimEye.“The group told me I joined on 5 January, but I have proof showing my first communication and registration were on 21 January. They are doctoring records to deny my claim.” Screenshots of her WhatsApp exchanges with MNBF coordinators confirm her joining process began on 21 January 2025 — contradicting the Society’s official claim that she was a member from 5 January 2025, a date they use to declare her “ineligible.” 📑 Internal Policy Manipulations MNBF’s own policy states that new members qualify for bereavement benefits after three months of active contribution. Yet, when Widow C’s husband died eight months after she joined, she was told she had “defaulted twice” — without any proof. An audio interview with MNBF’s representative Mr Dlodlo, recorded during a ZimEye call, reveals deep inconsistencies: “She joined on 5 January. She defaulted twice,” said Dlodlo.When pressed for evidence, he added: “We don’t keep a bank account. Members send money directly to the bereaved’s account.” This admission effectively means MNBF operates outside UK charity and financial regulations, without central records, audits, or safeguarding of members’ funds. ⚠️ Evidence of Fraudulent Record-Keeping ZimEye’s investigation uncovered that:• Membership dates can be altered unilaterally by administrators;• Bereaved families’ bank details are distributed through WhatsApp groups without formal verification;• The MNBF website — which displays bereavement notices and payment instructions — is controlled by individuals with the power to manipulate data and delete records. One notice dated 22 January 2025 shows contributions directed to “Mary-A•• D•••” under Halifax Bank, sort code 11-06-••, account number 010•••••. This same name appears in at least three unrelated bereavement notices — a possible indicator of fictitious or recycled accounts. 😭 “They Turn Grief into Business” Widow C told ZimEye she felt humiliated after being told she must produce a marriage certificate despite already submitting her child’s birth certificate showing both parents’ names. “This is emotional torture. They question widows during mourning, and when you comply, they invent new rules,” she said.“The group behaves like someone’s private company.” 🧾 Community Whistleblowers Speak Out Former MNBF volunteers say they’ve long suspected mismanagement. One former treasurer, speaking anonymously, confirmed that funds were handled informally, with no oversight or accountability. “People think they’re helping each other. But behind the scenes, there’s no ledger, no audit, no annual report — nothing. Once the money is sent, it’s gone.” MNBF’s chairperson, Mqondobazi Nduna Magonya, who claims to be a lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University, is now under scrutiny after verification checks revealed inconsistencies in his academic profile.When contacted, officials at Anglia Ruskin University stated they had no record of him on their staff register and referred us to two of their partner institutions for further confirmation. Both institutions also confirmed that no individual by that name appears on their academic or administrative rolls.A subsequent review of the university’s publicly available staff directory likewise produced no results for Magonya. This raises serious questions about the authenticity of his claimed professional affiliation with the university. 💣 Regulatory Breach Under the UK Charities Act 2011 and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) community finance rules, any organisation collecting public funds for welfare purposes must:• Maintain transparent accounts,• Have verifiable trustees,• Register for oversight if annual turnover exceeds £5,000. None of these requirements appear to have been met by MNBF, which continues to solicit money across WhatsApp groups and social media using “bereavement notifications.” 🕵🏽♂️ Investigative Findings Summary Key Issue FindingRegistration Date Tampering Website claims Widow C joined 5 Jan; evidence shows 21 Jan registration via WhatsAppRecord Access Members cannot edit their own data; only admins can alter personal recordsFunds Trail Payments made to individual bank accounts, not a registered charity accountAudit & Oversight No financial statements, audits, or independent trustees confirmedLegal Status Not registered with UK Charity Commission or FCAAmount per Death Up to £77,000 per bereavement allegedly circulating without accountability 🚨 ZimEye Calls for Audit ZimEye is urging UK authorities — including the Charity Commission, FCA, and Metropolitan Police Economic Crime Unit — to immediately audit MNBF’s operations, freeze active accounts, and interview its management team led by Mr Dlodlo and Mrs Agnes Dube (listed as MNBF Secretary on official notices). Grieving members like Widow C continue to wait for justice. “This fund has turned mourning into a money game,” one member said.“You pay when others die, but when it’s your turn, they find an excuse.” 📞 Editor’s Note ARE YOU ALSO A VICTIM? – If you are a Zimbabwean based in the UK who has contributed to the Matabeleland National Bereavement Fund or been denied assistance after a bereavement, contact ZimEye’s Investigations Desk confidentially at editor_at_zimeye.com.
