A special Zimbabwean artist dies
ADZT Statement on the Death of its Chairman Walter Lambert Mparutsa
13 April 2012Renowned artist, theatre practitioner and Artists for Democracy in Zimbabwe Trust (ADZT) Chairman, Walter Lambert Mparutsa has died. He was 72. Mparutsa died late on Thursday evening after he developed complications during a blood transfusion process. He was suffering from a cancer ailment. Mparutsa 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 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.
Friday, April 13th 2012 at 6:27 pm
I am at a loss of words. I once had the priviledge of meeting this great man in 2007 at Seke 5 High for a special day of lessons on directing, producing, acting and scriptwriting for all art lovers at this school. He was with Elton Mjanana and to say that i had a fabulous time is an understatement because it was one of the best days i have evr had in my life. The proffessionalism he displayed was just something else and the one thing i admired was how he incorporated himself into the group of teenagers. He also taught me one important thing in life which is that of always knowing kwawakabva. He said you could accomplish this by speaking in Shona wherever necessary and respecting the little traditions we have in our cultures. I say rest in peace baba and i dedicate the song tiri mubindu by oliver mtukudzi because haiwa rwendo rwuno mandibaya uye munhu akanaka haararame.