Nick Mangwana, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, has issued a warning to The Mirror, a local newspaper based in Masvingo, following its publication of an article alleging that ZANU PF was involved in facilitating Zimbabwean participation in Mozambique’s disputed October 9 elections. Mangwana criticized the paper for what he called “irresponsible reporting” and warned that the publication would face consequences for its actions.
In an article published in The Herald, Mangwana strongly denied the allegations, stating that ZANU PF does not interfere in the political affairs of neighboring countries. He explained that while senior party officials sometimes travel to the region for meetings, this should not be interpreted as participation in or endorsement of any election manipulation.
The controversy escalated after a number of people from Masvingo were filmed admitting to voting in Mozambique’s elections, sparking speculation about Zimbabwean involvement in vote-rigging. Mangwana responded to these accusations, criticizing The Mirror for repeatedly violating the law with baseless claims. He insisted that the accusations were originally fabricated by the newspaper and later adopted by some Mozambican political parties to explain their poor performance in the elections.
Mangwana dismissed these allegations as “falsehoods,” stating that they not only misrepresented the situation but also endangered Zimbabweans living in neighboring countries. He revealed that Zimbabwe’s embassies in Botswana and Mozambique had issued warnings to nationals living there, advising them to be cautious due to the risk of xenophobia fueled by such misinformation.
The controversy comes at a time of heightened political tensions in the region, as Botswana held its general elections on October 30, which resulted in a victory for the opposition. This followed an active campaign by senior ZANU PF officials, including Patrick Chinamasa, who had supported the ruling party’s candidate. Mangwana condemned the spread of false claims about Zimbabwe’s involvement in the internal affairs of its neighbors, warning that it could fuel anti-Zimbabwe sentiment.
As a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Mangwana reiterated Zimbabwe’s commitment to supporting free and fair elections in the region, highlighting the country’s participation in SADC’s electoral observer missions. He affirmed that Zimbabwe does not interfere in the electoral processes of other nations, emphasizing that the country works with any democratically elected leader in the region, in accordance with the laws and principles of those nations.
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