By Onny Gangata
THE ZRP has decried the abuse of social media by some errant users in spreading false information and fake news.
Speaking during a police and media engagement organized by MISA Zimbabwe in Gweru on Thursday, ZRP national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi raised concern over the rise of the practice in the country.
“The elephant in the room is the social media and we want the media to assist us in dismissing false news,” Ass Comm Nyathi said.
“We have people who are falsifying information going as far as creating fake press statements pretending to be from the police and government departments and wanting to speak on behalf of the police because they have hidden agendas.”
This comes in the wake of a proliferation in cases of fake press statements purported to be from some government departments including the police meant to cause alarm in the country.
Last week social media was awash with a fake press statement purported to have emanated from the President’s office in which the President was dismissing his deputy Rtd General Constantino Chiwenga.
Ass Comm Nyathi added that the police are currently carrying out investigations of those responsible for originating and production of fake press statements.
He warned that those caught on the wrong side of the law will be dealt with decisively.
“As the ZRP we have since launched investigations so that we bring to book the culprits, who if caught, will become a good example to all as they will be dealt with decisively using the laws of the country,” he warned.
MISA Gweru chapter chairperson Terry Madyauta applauded the police for readily availing information to journalists in the Midlands.
“Here in the Midlands we have a very strong and cordial working relationship with the police where they constantly and timeously avail information to us. Even during the election period we never had challenges with the police,” Madyauta said.
