Addressing a Press conference in Harare on Monday, Zanu PF
spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa accused the opposition CCC party of working
in cahoots with some MDC and Zanu PF members to create fake social media
accounts that peddle lies about ruling party.
He was responding to a question from journalists who asked
him to explain the Twitter accounts, @Zanu PF Patriots and @zanupf_patriots,
which were used last week to announce that Zanu PF director of information
Tafadzwa Mugwadi had been fired from his post.
“I told you earlier, there is an unspoken alliance between
CCC, some MDC elements and some people who may manifest themselves as Zanu PF
and others who are on the grey line,” Mutsvangwa said.
“They never tire of trying to hijack Zanu PF. Some of my
accounts have been hacked and there are some created in my name, but they are
not mine, There is a constant effort of sowing discord within Zanu PF and they
are trying to say because I am new, something may be happening between me and
my director (Mugwadi). He enjoys full confidence of the party and the President.
Those who are making false flag operations will not succeed, particularly
because I have a lifelong experience in dealing with such kind of
infiltration.”
Mutsvangwa said Zanu PF would approach Twitter to have the
social media account created under its name closed for peddling lies on party
affairs.
“It is just people trying to destabilise the party, but we
are very vigilant. I want the Twitter page which moonlights as a Zanu PF page
to be removed. You (Mugwadi) must tell Twitter to remove it. We can’t have
people pretending to be others on Twitter. Otherwise we will have to sue
Twitter, but it’s a corporate company and it will behave responsibly,” he said.
The Twitter account, @Zanu PF Patriots, which has over 51
000 followers, was established in June 2016.
The account is followed by Zanu PF supporters and State
institutions such as the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the Foreign Affairs
ministry, among others. The account posts diversified information on Zanu PF
affairs, including upcoming events and live updates on events happening within
the party.
Yesterday, the social media handle announced that Mnangagwa
would leave the country for Belgium to attend the European Union and African
Union Summit.
Zanu PF insiders said the Twitter account was being run by
members of the ruling party.
“The account is run by insiders within the ruling party,”
one source said.
“The account managers are usually at party events and they
are part of us. The threat to have the Twitter account suspended is just a
strategy aimed at controlling alternative voices and leaks of internal
information.”
Social media platforms, including Twitter, take many
proactive measures to monitor content which promotes terrorism and child sexual
abuse.
CCC national spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere rubbished
Mutsvangwa’s claims.
“This allegation is patently nonsensical. As usual the regime is in panic mode and scared stiff of the overwhelming support that CCC has garnered nationwide.”
She said her party had no interest in Zanu PF petty
squabbles as its sole focus was on winning elections. Newsday
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