Protest singer Viomak denies UK arrest

By Esther Gomo (Showbiz Correspondent)

Zimbabwean protest singer Viomak has denied what she calls ‘witchy malicious lies spread by my haters’ who claimed she was arrested and taken in for questioning by British police over allegations of cyber-bullying.

Its alleged what Viomak said was a campaign of “exposing Zanu PF terrorists on facebook” was in fact reported to police by some of the ‘victims’ as cyber-bullying. Viomak was posting pictures of suspected Zanu PF ‘terrorists’ and inviting people to pass comments after she ‘introduced’ who they were.

On Tuesday she released a statement on her website accusing a woman known as Qubekani Ndlovu saying “this woman just hates me for my work and she can’t wait to witness my downfall.

“The same woman who spread malicious lies that I had sent thugs to kidnap her when she visited Zimbabwe is back again with malicious lies that I may be facing questioning for exposing Zanu PF terrorists on facebook,” she said.

It’s not clear though why Viomak is no longer on facebook with suggestions the social networking site suspended her account pending investigations into the accusations of cyber-bullying.

A defiant Viomak said “My personal Viomak facebook account is just DEACTIVATED and I am very well and doing my activism as usual as I work on Zimbabwe Development leaders political party .I have not spoken to any British police questioning me about exposing Zanu PF terrorists on facebook.

“Exposing political terrorists is not a crime but my haters like Qubekani can’t wait to see me fall down. Stop day dreaming and wishing for my downfall Qubekani. I am here and very energetic as ever. Nothing will stop me from doing my activism and exposing political terrorists.

“Zanu PF thugs are enjoying temporary freedom because they know if I am not there (on facebook) no one else exposes them. I am not down my haters. I will be back soon if you need me. Why do people treat facebook like their second home where people are supposed to be,” she added.

Cyber-bullying is “the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or group, that is intended to harm or embarrass others”.  As it has become more common in society, particularly among young people, legislation and awareness campaigns have arisen to combat it.

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