News / Local
Govt paranoid #ThisFlag could weaken Zanu-PF strong holds in rural areas
24 Jul 2016 at 04:00hrs | Views
The state media on Sunday accused #ThisFlag movement by the citizens of Zimbabwe of plotting to instigate civil disturbances in rural areas.
This comes as state media continues its smear campaign against Pastor Evan Mawarire and its insinuations that the west is involved in plotting President Robert Mugabe's downfall.
According to Sunday Mail, which still claims #ThisFlag is being sponsored by the west, the campaign is now "targeting rural folk who largely support Zanu-PF."
Despite it being common knowledge that #ThisFlag campaign was started by Mawarire, state media claims that "United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Harry Thomas and his outgoing French sidekick, Ambassador Laurent Delahousse, have since been identified as the engineers of the violence targeted at destabilising the country and effecting regime change but dressed up as 'pro-democracy' activism."
The state controlled publication also claims that the British Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Catriona Laing, is also involved and allegedly held "night meetings" with "civil society representatives in Kariba last week."
It also reports that "group was mobilising funds to provide 3G network coverage to rural communities and then purchase and distribute hi-tech cellphones to transmit anti-Government messages in those areas."
The government appears to be very worried about the potential for rural folk accessing that same kind of information currently being enjoyed by those in the urban areas
Zanu-PF is used to being the dominant source of information in the rural areas.
This comes as state media continues its smear campaign against Pastor Evan Mawarire and its insinuations that the west is involved in plotting President Robert Mugabe's downfall.
According to Sunday Mail, which still claims #ThisFlag is being sponsored by the west, the campaign is now "targeting rural folk who largely support Zanu-PF."
Despite it being common knowledge that #ThisFlag campaign was started by Mawarire, state media claims that "United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Harry Thomas and his outgoing French sidekick, Ambassador Laurent Delahousse, have since been identified as the engineers of the violence targeted at destabilising the country and effecting regime change but dressed up as 'pro-democracy' activism."
It also reports that "group was mobilising funds to provide 3G network coverage to rural communities and then purchase and distribute hi-tech cellphones to transmit anti-Government messages in those areas."
The government appears to be very worried about the potential for rural folk accessing that same kind of information currently being enjoyed by those in the urban areas
Zanu-PF is used to being the dominant source of information in the rural areas.
Source - Byo24News
