Zimbabweans using the popular micro-blogging platform, Twitter went into an overdrive over the weekend reacting harshly to a tweet by philanthropist and Econet Wireless founder, Strive Masiyiwa’s wife, Tsitsi over a tweet she posted on her account challenging people to be more productive with time.
The tweet that she could have genuinely posted to encourage her fellow countrymen and women to work hard and make maximum use of time torched a storm. Like the biblical story where Jesus told his disciples that, “if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words to shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town,” she unreservedly apologized.
Here is how the war started after Tsitsi Masiyiwa’s midnight tweet on Saturday.
Wondering how a nation with GDP percapita of $1 000 for over 37 yrs life expectancy 34yrs upto 31% children stunted, can insist on the right to work 8hrs plus 1 hr lunch 5 days a week, rest for 2 dys watch football for 42 wks straight. Where is the sense of urgency desperation?
— Tsitsi Masiyiwa (@T_Masiyiwa) April 14, 2018
I’m sure that can’t be Zimbabwe you are talking about….that’s not our life expectancy rate currently. Plus the stipulation of work hours allows for overtime calculation based on a standard. We want development yes but with ethical work hours and conditions.
— StraightTalkNashe (@tinashe5m) April 15, 2018
The ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ mantra is making the filthy rich capitalists like Tsitsi Masiyiwa more bolder in their anti-labour and anti-social rights sentiments. That’s a slave driver mentality.
— Lenin T. Chisaira (@LeninChisaira) April 15, 2018
Neither does it get prosperous as long as some few people get their riches from other people’s labour. Working over 8 hours at #Econet will actually lessen one’s life expectancy. And there’s no prize for guessing who’ll be prosperous as a result of overworking Econet workers.
— Lenin T. Chisaira (@LeninChisaira) April 15, 2018
Its just an irresponsible tweet, she speaks as if there are either jobs available and people do not want to work or that people must work and not not expect to get paid.
— Whitlaw T Mugwiji (@jjwhitlaw) April 15, 2018
I think you are missing the point by a wide margin. The issue here is about our work ethic as a people. Read on what other countries do Singapore Japan etc. Any country that wants to develop must be competitive.
— Moses Machipisa (@MosesMachipisa) April 15, 2018
I think, Maam, you may be a tad bit out of touch with Zim realities on the ground. And insinuating that Zimbabweans are lazy, well, thats just offside. Tombokupai yellow card perhaps for not properly articulating whatever point you wished to make.
— Sharon Bwanya (@tashab21) April 15, 2018
That tweet has been taken out of context! Misdirected anger is the new norm
— African (@ali_naka) April 15, 2018
Your tweet needs further explanation lest it makes the wrong impression to the people you care about. So far it looks as if you are accusing the working class of being lazy, when in fact the working class are victims of this cruel regime.
— Tererayi Rushwaya (@IrreverenceSuit) April 15, 2018
1/2 Friends who responded to my tweet. I passionately love Zimbabwe love to express, debate & brutally confront the challenges that hold us back. To those who are angry and livid feeling offended, I apologise wholeheartedly.
2/2 Dialogue is critical to get us moving forward & it gives us a platform to seek solutions. It’s part of the way we fix ourselves and each other. Let’s share solutions as we face hard truths. My work in the community expresses my passion. Tsitsi Masiyiwa
