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ADZT statement on the death of its chairman Walter Lambert
Muparutsa
Artists
for Democracy in Zimbabwe Trust (ADZT)
April 13, 2012
Renowned artist,
theatre practitioner and Artists for Democracy in Zimbabwe Trust
(ADZT) Chairman, Walter Lambert Muparutsa has died. He was 72. Muparutsa
died late on Thursday evening after he developed complications during
a blood transfusion process. He was suffering from a cancer ailment.
Muparutsa will
be remembered for his artistic prowess which earned him many accolades
and praise locally and internationally. He belonged to a special
group of Zimbabwean artists better known as protest artists. He
was a great believer in freedom of expression, human rights and
democracy. At the time of his death he was running his Global Arts
Theatre Association and was Chairperson of Artists for Democracy
in Zimbabwe Trust (ADZT). He was also in process of putting together
the annual Chimanimani Arts Festival.
In 2003 he
was part of a group of artists who fought censorship of the arts
by taking the government to court following the banning of the play
Super Patriots and Morons. The play was a sad reflection of the
state of the country's human rights, lawlessness, and murder
of President Robert Mugabe's opposition activists, economic
meltdown, unemployment, starvation, corruption and endless shortages
of virtually all basic necessities. It was banned on suspicion that
was it lampooning the then 83-year-old President Robert Mugabe who
at the time had clocked 27 straight years in power. For us at ADZT
it is a great loss which can never be quantified. He was a mentor,
a steward, adviser and above all a great pillar of strength. We
will forever miss him with his great sense of humour which made
him a friend of both the young and the old. His fearlessness was
a great virtue which we will forever cherish. May his family be
strengthened in this time of mourning knowing fully well that his
life was one which was greatly lived.
The theatre
guru at one time produced a play that depicted him as a cancer patient
and ironically it is the same disease which led to his death.
Apart from his
theatre work he was also known for his talent in film. He acted
in films such as Yellow Card in 2000, Everyone's Child in
1996, Cry Freedom in 1987 and Play Warriors in 2011.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Mourners are
gathered at his house at Number 29 Pollet Drive Belvedere in Harare.
Pollet Drive is off Mutley Avenue which is opposite the National
Sports Stadium on the side where a Chinese hotel is under construction.
Details of his burial are yet to be announced by the family.
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