HARARE, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwean government on Monday expressed its concern over the increase in fake news on both mainstream and social media at a time when the country is grappling with the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Aaron Nhepera said it was unacceptable and unethical to publish such falsehoods.
His remarks came in the wake of false reports on social and mainstream media alleging the death and illness of some senior government and ruling ZANU-PF officials due to COVID-19.
"Government has noted with deep concern, recent developments where mainstream media, social media and individuals are spreading falsehoods on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the nation's leadership. Some of the falsehoods that have been peddled include suggestions that the Honorable Vice President General Retired Constantino Chiwenga was unwell and had been airlifted to China for medical treatment," Nhepera said.
He said Vice President Kembo Mohadi was also subjected to similar falsehoods, along with many other senior government and ruling ZANU-PF officials.
"Members of the public are urged to desist from such tendencies that infringe on other people's rights and cause unnecessary distress and anguish among the people affected," he said.
He said while the pandemic was indeed devastating the country, it was no justification for anyone to spread blatant falsehoods that have the effect of destabilizing the nation.
"Our focus as law-abiding citizens should be on strict observance of the World Health Organization regulations on COVID-19 and adherence to the national lockdown restrictions," Nhepera added.
The country last week lost two cabinet ministers to the virus, Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo and Transport Minister Joel Biggie Matiza.
This was hard on the heels of the death of another minister Ellen Gwaradzimba on Jan. 15 due to the virus. She was the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Manicaland Province.
Zimbabwe's COVID-19 cases have surpassed the 30,000 mark while deaths have also passed the 1,000 mark as the nation grapples with a second wave of the pandemic.
As of Sunday, the country has recorded 31,320 cases of COVID-19 and 1,005 deaths since the first case of the virus was reported last March. Enditem