by SAVIOUS KWINIKA
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – CITIZENS Watch Zimbabwe (CWZ) President Patience Chard has urged Zimbabweans to refrain from celebrating the death of others, saying life and death are ultimately in God’s hands.
Speaking to CAJ News Africa in Johannesburg on Thursday, Chard expressed deep concern over social media posts celebrating the reported death of philanthropic businessman Sir Wicknell Chivayo, his wife and four other passengers in a helicopter crash on Wednesday evening.
Chard said she was saddened by what she described as an inhumane response to the tragedy, including songs reportedly composed to celebrate Chivayo’s death.
“Some people are unashamedly creating songs celebrating Sir Wicknell Chivayo’s death. This is inhuman,” Chard said.
“As much as many are celebrating the untimely death of Sir Wicknell and his wife, let us not forget that we are also human, and life is given and taken by God.”
She said insults and celebrations directed at the dead were inconsistent with African cultural and traditional values, while urging people to consider the impact of their words on Chivayo’s children and other bereaved families.
Chard acknowledged that Chivayo’s philanthropic activities had attracted criticism, with some people arguing that he should have directed his wealth towards hospitals, medicines and medical equipment rather than other forms of assistance.
However, she questioned whether members of the public had the right to dictate how another person should spend his own money.
“His money was his money, and he had the right to decide where he wanted to donate it,” she said.
Chard also urged people to reflect on their own shortcomings rather than passing judgement on others.
“Do we have a person who has never sinned before?” she asked, invoking the biblical teaching that those without sin should be the first to cast a stone.
She appealed to Zimbabweans to exercise restraint and empathy, particularly on social media, where comments can quickly reach bereaved families.
“Social media carries far, and those words will reach his children,” Chard said. “Let us be human for once about this.”
She urged citizens to mourn with those mourning, saying the deceased and other victims had families and loved ones.
“Whatever took his life, it is between him and his Maker,” Chard said. “Let God be our judge and jury, not the living.”
– CAJ News