Dear Linda – Tribute by Dr. Abigale Mupambi

Delivered on the Last Day, 27 May 2026

Dear Linda, Lilomatic , Nyon’onyai, Mambokadzi, Masarira,

You fought a good fight. You ran your race with focus, bravery, and a clear resolve.

You stood as a voice for the voiceless, a defender of the weak and the oppressed.  

You endured jail, tribulations, criticism, and attacks through rough terrain. You never took a “Yes” for a “No,” nor a “No” for a “Yes.”

In the political arena, you introduced rational opposition politics — politics of progress. Above all, you chose the side of the people.

Linda, in 2018 you stood between the innocent masses and a force of destruction.  You chose to block the hurricane alone and expose the plans against the Zimbabwean homeland during the Motlante Commission. You did it unapologetically, without fear. You fought a good fight.

As I stand here today, those you saved are here celebrating a life of sacrifice. They salute you and say: Thank you, our heroine.

Linda, even as you sleep today, those who feared you standing are still running — haunted by the echo of your voice. They cannot come to terms with your radical call for sanity and rational politics in opposition. You served as a labour activist, an outstanding human rights defender, and in the arena of power politics against injustice. Your commitment to serve the masses was unmatched.

Linda, you represented and redefined the voice of women in a male-dominated political terrain. You inspired many. You taught me how to stand firm even in the face of a hurricane.

But Linda, you were also an all-rounder.

As a mother, you stood with your children — Kuziva, Kupakwashe, Charles, Mandipa, and Kombo. You carried that role with pride.  

You even embraced being a grandmother to Binyuboy with joy and pride.

Despite all these family roles, you were always on watch as an auntie and sister to brother Russel, and a close, responsible daughter to Mum and Dad, Mr. and Mrs. Masarira.

As activists, we shared great and touching experiences. Between 2015 and 2016 we endured extreme intimidation, harassment, and arrests. But that never deterred us from our focus. You served time at Chikurubi Maximum Prison, yet all these tribulations only made us stronger.  

Linda, you shared your time and love among us all.

I remember how you left the MDC and started watering the vision of a better Zimbabwe under a new alternative voice in 2019. You picked everything from the ground with just a pen and paper in your hands. The LEAD Party was formed, and today its legacy stands.

As you lie here today, I remember you as an entrepreneur too. You started _Zhizha Natural Dried Foods_, an export company, to inspire and encourage other women and youths to take part in business, value addition, and production.

You were also a Labour Consultant. Linda, I know you have left files on the table with diverse labour issues that communities and troubled workers entrusted to you. Just this May Day, farm workers in Inyanga entrusted you with another matter with the potential to rescue more than 300 of them. This is testament to how you attended to grassroots matters with clarity and focus.

Lilomatic, you never disappointed your fans on social media or in your social circles. You were always available for them.

Interestingly, when I tried to convince you not to respond to critics online, you would always remind me: _“Abie, my other name is Nyon’onyai. As long as they start me, I will respond to them all. I’d rather sleep late after I’m done with them.”_ I knew exactly what you meant!  

And when the temperatures got higher in those spaces, you would still wake up and ask me to give you shield. You knew I would not disappoint. That was our tag team.

Government officials, civic society organizations, your dear friends, the media, corporates, strategic partners, and associates are here today, joining your family and children to bid farewell to a life of sacrifice, a rare character, and a voice of reason.

Linda, my dear, in you I have lost my other half — a sister, a workmate. I commit to uphold your legacy.

Linda Tsungirirai “Nyon’onyai” Masarira, you will be missed dearly.  

Rest in Peace 🙏