Who can start a funeral fundraiser on Chema?

You need a Chema account, and the terms say users must be 18 or have a parent or guardian's consent. You must have the right to fundraise for the named beneficiary, so it is normally a close relative or someone the family has asked to organise it.

What information do I need about the deceased?

The funeral setup asks for your relationship to the deceased, their first name and surname, and their dates of birth and passing. A photo is optional.

Does it cost anything to start a funeral fundraiser?

No. Creating and publishing a fundraiser is free. Payment-processing fees, and any platform fee, are deducted from donations, and the breakdown is shown before you publish.

Do people need an account to give?

No. Anyone with the fundraiser link can donate. Donors may add a message and can choose to give anonymously.

Can relatives abroad contribute?

Yes. International options such as PayPal (USD) and cards are available where offered at checkout, and the link can be shared on WhatsApp or email with relatives anywhere.

How do I receive the money?

Add a payout method, complete account verification, and request a withdrawal from your dashboard. Requests are reviewed, and approved withdrawals are typically sent within 24 hours to a mobile wallet or bank account.

Can I show the Chema fundraiser on a Muzukuru memorial page?

Where Chema is enabled for your Muzukuru booking, the memorial or livestream page shows a Donations tab with the fundraiser and recent donors. Ask the Muzukuru team to confirm it for your booking.

What if we do not reach the goal?

There is no penalty. You keep what was raised, less fees, and the fundraiser can stay open to accept more donations while it is active.

Can a donation be refunded?

Chema's terms say donations are generally non-refundable unless a fundraiser is found fraudulent. Contact Chema support promptly if you suspect fraud or a payment error.

Traditions & Chema7 min readUpdated 21 Oct 2026

Chema for Funerals: FAQs and a Step-by-Step Guide to Funeral Fundraising

Answers to common questions about raising funds for a funeral on Chema (chema.co.zw): who can start a campaign, what to include, how supporters give from home or abroad, fees, and withdrawals.

Ask Our Team on WhatsApp

A funeral often brings unexpected costs at short notice, and the people who want to help may be spread across Zimbabwe, South Africa, the UK, and elsewhere. Chema gives a family one public page where supporters can read about the person who has passed, contribute, and leave a message.

This guide covers Chema for funerals only. For the other causes the platform supports, and for the wider tradition of chema, see the general Chema guide.

Chema is run separately from Muzukuru's livestreaming service, and fees and payment methods can change. Treat the live Chema site as the source of truth before you publish or give.

Part 1

What Chema Is, in the Context of a Funeral

A fundraiser page for the family, shared by link

Chema is a community fundraising platform at chema.co.zw. For a funeral, the organiser creates a fundraiser in the Funeral category, tells the story of the person who has passed, sets a goal, and shares the link on WhatsApp, Facebook, or email.

Where a Muzukuru memorial or livestream page has Chema enabled for the booking, its Donations tab shows the fundraiser and recent donors, so people watching the service can contribute without leaving the page.

Different from the tradition, built on it

The custom of chema as practised in families and communities varies. The platform is a tool for collecting contributions online; it does not replace what your family or community expects.

Part 2

Set Up a Funeral Fundraiser Step by Step

What you will be asked for

Chema's setup flow puts the Funeral category first. Have the following ready before you start:

1. Choose the Funeral category: Select it from the category list when you start your fundraiser.
2. Say who you are fundraising for: You can fundraise for yourself, someone else, or a charity. For a funeral, you will be asked for your relationship to the deceased, such as spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, friend, or colleague.
3. Enter the deceased's details: First name, surname, date of birth, and date of passing are required. A photo is optional.
4. Write the story and set a goal: Explain what the funds will cover, such as mortuary, transport, burial, and the gathering, and set a realistic target. You can edit the title, description, cover image, and goal after publishing.
5. Review the fees and publish: The fee breakdown is visible before you publish. Once live, copy the unique link and share it.

Get family agreement first

Agree within the family who will run the fundraiser and what the money is for before the link goes out. It avoids confusion, and Chema's terms require organisers to have the right to fundraise for the named beneficiary.

Part 3

How Supporters Give

From Zimbabwe or from abroad

Supporters open the link and choose an amount. They do not need an account.

Mobile money and local options: EcoCash and Paynow options such as OneMoney, InnBucks, and Zipit are listed for local payments.
International options: PayPal is available for USD donations, and Chema's FAQ also lists Visa and Mastercard. What you see at checkout depends on your location and currency, so go by the options shown.
Messages and anonymity: Donors can add a message of comfort. They can also tick the anonymous option, which hides their name from the donor list while the amount still counts toward the goal.

Part 4

Fees and Getting the Money Out

What is deducted and how withdrawals work

Creating a fundraiser is free, with no sign-up cost or monthly subscription, and donors are not charged a separate fee by Chema. Fees are deducted from each donation before it reaches the fundraiser.

Request a withdrawal from your fundraiser dashboard after adding a payout method and completing account verification.
Requests are reviewed before payment. Chema says approved withdrawals are typically sent within 24 hours, though provider or bank delays can apply.
You can withdraw during the campaign or after it. A fundraiser that reaches its goal is marked Goal Reached and can keep receiving donations while active.

Check live rates

Rates and payment methods can change. Confirm them on chema.co.zw's Pricing & Fees page before you publish or give.

Item	What to know
Creating the fundraiser	Free
Payment-processing fee	Set by the payment method. Chema's pricing page currently lists 2.5% for EcoCash and Paynow options; PayPal's fee varies by country
Platform fee	Shown on Chema's Pricing & Fees page and in the setup breakdown; check the live figure
Payout charges	Your bank or mobile network may charge its own fee on the transfer
Falling short of the goal	No penalty; you keep what was raised, less fees

Part 5

Good Practice for Funeral Fundraisers

Keeping the trust of those who give

Be accurate and specific about what the money is for, and only share personal details and photos you have permission to publish. Published fundraisers are public to anyone with the link.
Post updates after the service, such as thanks, the burial date, or how funds were used, so donors can see their contribution mattered.
Donations are generally non-refundable, and Chema does not supervise how organisers spend funds. Donors should check who the organiser is and who the fundraiser is for before giving.
Pair the fundraiser with a livestream or memorial page so relatives abroad can both watch the service and contribute from the same place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common practical questions families ask about this topic.

Chema (chema.co.zw) is a community fundraising platform. For a funeral, a family member or friend creates a fundraiser in the Funeral category, shares the link, and supporters contribute online to help with funeral costs.