Rutsvara, who was a prominent businessman in Gweru with
interests in the hospitality, education and transport sectors, succumbed to
kidney failure at a local hospital in the Midlands capital last week.
He has since been laid to rest.
Soon after his death, some Zanu PF activists poured
condolence messages on their WhatsApp group, but the move sparked heated debate
with some party hardliners saying the opposition politician should never be
mourned on their social media platforms.
“It is with a heart that I announce the passing on of our
former Gweru Urban MP Rutsvara,” one Zanu PF member posted.
But the message did not go down well with some hardliners
who called for “order” from their colleague, questioning why she was posting
the death message on a Zanu PF WhatsApp platform.
“Remember they call themselves CCC champions and yet we
post their messages here. Let us be guided accordingly,” responded another Zanu
PF member.
But the member who had initially posted the condolence
message reminded others that despite political differences, people were still
related and there was nothing amiss in posting a condolence message mourning an
opposition activist.
“But you should mourn them (opposition figures) there and
not here (on Zanu PF social media platforms),” another Zanu PF hardliner hit
back.
The debate raged on as ruling party members remained
divided. But at the end of the debate many felt that opposition figures should
be grieved on their social media platforms and that it was against the spirit
of “Africanism or Ubuntu” not to express grief over fellow citizens based on
political differences.
Zimbabwe is so deeply polarised politically that opposition
political parties have also been accused Of posting nasty comments whenever
Zanu PF members die. Newsday
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