A Chitungwiza man who allegedly authored and circulated a
fake statement bearing President Mnangagwa’s signature announcing the extension
of the lockdown period was arrested on Saturday.
The fake statement was circulated on social media platforms
nearly two weeks ago when the country was still in the initial 21-day lockdown
period.
Lovemore Zvokusekwa (36) of House Number 7094 Unit J,
Chitungwiza, appeared in court yesterday before Harare magistrate Mrs Judith
Taruvinga charged with publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial
to the State.
He was remanded in custody to May 13 with instructions to
apply for bail at the High Court. According to the court papers, Zvokusekwa is
employed by High Range Resources (Pvt) Ltd.
Prosecuting, Mr Lawrence Gangarahwe alleged that sometime
this month Zvokusekwa published a false Press statement purporting to have been
issued and signed by the President.
It is the State’s case that the document was headlined,
“Extension of lockdown period by 13 days only”.
The document was circulated on different WhatsApp platforms
by Zvokusekwa using his Hauwei cellphone with an Econet line.
According to the State, President Mnangagwa did not
originate or sign the said fake statement.
Spreading fake news on social media and mainstream media
about coronavirus (Covid-19) has been categorised as a Level 14 offence, the
highest in the country and people convicted of the crime face up to 20 years in
jail.
Recently, President Mnangagwa warned peddlers of falsehoods
regarding coronavirus (Covid-19) issues saying they faced a 20-year jail term
if convicted.
He said this at his Precabe Farm in Sherwood, Kwekwe, last
week after returning from a tour of Mkoba and Senga suburbs in Gweru to assess residents’
levels of compliance to regulations of the previous 21-day lockdown.
The President dismissed as nonsensical, social media
reports then claiming that he had extended the initial lockdown when no such
decision had been made.
He then ordered an investigation into the origins of such
messages circulating on social media.
Herald
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