Billionaire businessman and Econet founder Strive Masiyiwa has hit back at exiled former Information Minister Jonathan Moyo as the fallout over claims of “cyberbullying” continues.
The issue started when Strive’s wife Tsitsi Masiyiwa closed down her Twitter Account after she came under fire over comments she had made which some interpreted as being “privileged” and out of touch with reality. Strive then accused certain elements of cyberbullying his wife off Twitter while not appreciating the contributions the Masiyiwa family had made to Zimbabwe. He also hinted that one of the alleged bullies (suspected to be Dewa Mavinga) was an employee of one of his personal friends. Said Masiyiwa,
Sadly one of the foremost bullies is a Zimbabwean who works for an international organization that is highly respected for its work on human rights. It’s (sic) founder, now 95 is a close family friend. I hope my human rights friend is happy now that he has stopped her from using Twitter. Maybe now he and others like him will stop this pathetic misogyny.
What about the rights of women like my wife to also express an opinion?
This did not go down well with the former Information Minister who called Masiyiwa’s remarks “shocking, outrageous & nauseating”. Said Moyo
One need not hold a brief for @dewamavhinga to realise how shocking, outrageous & unacceptable it is for Strive Masiyiwa to accuse Dewa of cyberbullying his wife; & top that by peddling his crap accusation on the Internet while name dropping, in the hope of costing Dewa his job!
…who are the “some” & what gives Strive the notion that Tsitsi has a right to condemn the “some” without any objection from anyone?
…The apoplectic response by Strive Masiyiwa is disproportionate. And it’s particularly nauseating that Strive drags Dewa’s employer into the imbroglio.
Masiyiwa, however, did not take this lying down and immediately hit back at Moyo accusing him of being a hypocrite. Said Moyo,
…Some people who vent their frustrations on Social media are in an “echo chamber” of their own voices, in which they do not want to open their minds to the possibilities of other ways to look at problems in order to find a solution.
Finally, let me make this one observation: Don’t you find it curious that the attacks you refer to, began after we successfully completed the biggest listing in Zimbabwean history? Hmmm!
It also happened when I listed Econet for the first time, some of the people involved in those attacks back then, are some of the same people attacking me now. One former Minister [now champion of democracy] was involved in the shutting down of my newspaper, which was subsequently bombed. Same guy attacking me now!
I don’t worry about these things. The law will take its course where necessary.
Commenting on the issue, media expert Dr Pedzisayi Ruhanya said,
Pathetic for Strive Masiyiwa to attempt to influence the firing of Dewa Mavhinga over false allegations of cyber bullying his wife Tsitsi. This is a public sphere in the pure Habermasian sense; no censor using financial power and connections to power!
Its oxymoronic that Masiyiwa complains about bogus bullying of his wife Tsitsi by Dewa while he is actually and in reality bullying @dewamavhinga by real and actual threats to make him lose his job, silence him and many others who dare challenge their ideas online using POWER!
Sadly one of the foremost bullies is a Zimbabwean who works for an international organization that is highly respected for its work on human rights. It’s (sic) founder, now 95 is a close family friend. I hope my human rights friend is happy now that he has stopped her from using Twitter. Maybe now he and others like him will stop this pathetic misogyny.
What about the rights of women like my wife to also express an opinion?
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| Strive Masiyiwa Punches Back At Jonathan Moyo As “CyberBullying” War Heats Up |
One need not hold a brief for @dewamavhinga to realise how shocking, outrageous & unacceptable it is for Strive Masiyiwa to accuse Dewa of cyberbullying his wife; & top that by peddling his crap accusation on the Internet while name dropping, in the hope of costing Dewa his job!
…who are the “some” & what gives Strive the notion that Tsitsi has a right to condemn the “some” without any objection from anyone?
…The apoplectic response by Strive Masiyiwa is disproportionate. And it’s particularly nauseating that Strive drags Dewa’s employer into the imbroglio.
Masiyiwa, however, did not take this lying down and immediately hit back at Moyo accusing him of being a hypocrite. Said Moyo,
…Some people who vent their frustrations on Social media are in an “echo chamber” of their own voices, in which they do not want to open their minds to the possibilities of other ways to look at problems in order to find a solution.
Finally, let me make this one observation: Don’t you find it curious that the attacks you refer to, began after we successfully completed the biggest listing in Zimbabwean history? Hmmm!
It also happened when I listed Econet for the first time, some of the people involved in those attacks back then, are some of the same people attacking me now. One former Minister [now champion of democracy] was involved in the shutting down of my newspaper, which was subsequently bombed. Same guy attacking me now!
I don’t worry about these things. The law will take its course where necessary.
Commenting on the issue, media expert Dr Pedzisayi Ruhanya said,
Pathetic for Strive Masiyiwa to attempt to influence the firing of Dewa Mavhinga over false allegations of cyber bullying his wife Tsitsi. This is a public sphere in the pure Habermasian sense; no censor using financial power and connections to power!
Its oxymoronic that Masiyiwa complains about bogus bullying of his wife Tsitsi by Dewa while he is actually and in reality bullying @dewamavhinga by real and actual threats to make him lose his job, silence him and many others who dare challenge their ideas online using POWER!
