Jacob Ngarivhume has triggered strong reactions online after publicly criticising late opposition politician and activist Linda Masarira shortly after news of her death emerged.
Masarira, president of the Labour Economists and African Democrats (LEAD) party, died in Harare on Sunday at the age of 43 after battling health complications.
While tributes poured in from across Zimbabwe’s political divide, Ngarivhume took to X and Facebook to accuse Masarira of betraying opposition activists who had previously supported her during periods of political persecution.
“Sadly, I have no tears to shed for Linda,” Ngarivhume wrote.
The Transform Zimbabwe leader said he and his wife had helped support Masarira’s family while she was imprisoned and claimed his party had assisted her during court proceedings.
According to Ngarivhume, relations later deteriorated after Masarira allegedly aligned herself with ZANU PF and began attacking opposition figures.
He accused her of falsely claiming during an interview with state-controlled newspaper The Herald that he had received US$300,000 from American sources during preparations for the 2020 anti-corruption protests.
“When we were organising the anti-corruption protests of 2020, she pushed to meet with me,” he said.
“After I reluctantly agreed, she gave an interview to The Herald lying through her teeth.”
Ngarivhume also accused Masarira of spending the latter part of her political career serving government interests and claimed ruling party officials had ultimately abandoned her despite her loyalty.
“After using her, they discard to the cold dustbin,” he wrote.
The remarks immediately divided opinion online, with some supporting Ngarivhume’s criticism while others accused him of disrespecting the dead.
Below is full statement from Ngarivhume:
“Sadly, l have no tears to shed for Linda. We stood with her when she was persecuted by Zanu Pf back then, Mrs Ngarivhume and l, looked after her family when she was in prison. My party Transform Zimbabwe supported her in court.
“In teturn when she was released, she joined Zanu Pf and started lying against many of us in the opposition movement. When we were organising the anti-corruption protests of 2020, she pushed to meet with me.
“After l reluctantly agreed, she gave an interview to the Herald lying through her teeth that l told her that l had received 300 000 US from the Americans.
“She dedicated the last half of her life to #SellingOut! Anochemwa nana Nick Mangwana nana ED uyu. After using her, they discard to the cold dustbin. They have lost a committed lier for their PR. #NoToCorruption!” Ngarivhume wrote.
Masarira was widely known for her activism around women’s rights, social justice and labour issues.
She first entered mainstream politics through the People’s Democratic Party led by Tendai Biti before later serving as spokesperson for the Movement for Democratic Change – T faction led by Thokozani Khupe.
In 2019, she founded LEAD and attempted to position the party as an alternative political movement focused on economic empowerment and governance reform.
Masarira also attracted controversy in recent years because of her increasingly combative stance toward sections of the opposition and her willingness to engage with ruling party figures and state-linked policy discussions.
Despite political disagreements surrounding her legacy, many supporters continue to remember her as a fearless activist who remained outspoken throughout Zimbabwe’s turbulent political environment.
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