Opposition condemns government terrorist tag on social media

By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |

The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has rapped government’s new tendency to view social media activists as terrorists.

Government is currently crafting laws that seek to prosecute citizen activists who use social media such as Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter to criticise the establishment for terrorism.

At the same time, police recently announced that they were keen to question three Zimbabweans based in South Africa and Australia over anti-government videos they posted online.

Non-political activists jolted the regime in July through pop corn protests against corruption, unpopular policies and a worsening economic crisis.

“The new found energy by the Zanu PF regime to suddenly characterise the use of social media as terrorism is baseless and senseless.

“It is very strange that this government views and treats anyone who is not in agreement with it as a terrorist. For many years we have been treated as enemies or terrorists by this regime simply for criticising its shortfalls,” said Jacob Mafume, the PDP spokesperson, in a statement on Wednesday.

“Legitimate governments all over the world encourage their citizens to openly criticise them because it is through lively dialogue that countries develop and progress. It is only authoritarian regimes like Zanu PF that fear the people,” he added.

He urged President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF government to desist from viewing civil activist groups such as #Tajamuka, #ThisFlag and #ThisGown as terrorist oprganisations.

He insisted that “the social movements are not committing any crime against the regime for speaking on behalf of every Zimbabwean” through peaceful demonstrations as allowed by the constitution.

“As the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), we strongly condemn the behaviour of ministers, Christopher Mushowe and Supa Mandiwanzira who want to use repressive and unconstitutional methods against ordinary citizens for using social media platforms,” said Mafume.

Mushohwe, the Information minister, on Tuesday repeated the government position that authorities would descend on perceived cyber terrorists while Mandiwanzira, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) minister, is pushing for a Computer Crime and Cyber Crime Bill.

“For Supa (Mandiwanzira), a journalist, disc jockey and owner of a radio station to make an unconstitutional proposal and attempt to push through Parliament the Computer Crime and Cyber Crime in order to infringe on the people’s lives boggles the mind,’ wrote Mafume.

Mandiwanzira is the ZiFM owner and is believed to be fronting several national intelligence projects.

Mafume accused the two ministers of seeking to deprive citizens of their rights and freedoms and condemned the government for expending energy on fighting social media despite the social and economic problems Zimbabwe is facing. Nehanda Radio