News / National
Kasukuwere worker faces possible arrest
18 May 2014 at 09:26hrs | Views
An individual who worked for Minister Saviour Kasukuwere during his stint at the helm of the Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment portfolio faces possible arrest after computer hackers discovered the employee supplied the Baba Jukwa syndicate with privileged policy information.
In documents seen by our Harare Bureau, the employee can be seen giving Baba Jukwa specific information about policy announcements that were due to be made by the minister and urging him to post the information on his Facebook page.
It is unclear from the documents who the employee is as a pseudonym, Tebogo Dithobane, was used. It is, however, believed that the individual behind the account is known to the authorities.
It is likely the employee was attached to the Ministry of Indigenisation or the minister's Comoil offices in Selous Avenue, giving them access to Minister Kasukuwere's schedule and movements.
In a message to Baba Jukwa on April 24, 2013, the employee tells Baba Jukwa about a planned policy announcement later that day, saying: "Please protect my ID. Kasukuwere is going to issue a statement denying a change of legislation in the indigenisation. It will happen very soon. Few people know this right now so do not say it direct.
"Do not refer to my profile. I use it on Amai Jukwa page commenting support and you will blow my cover."
Baba Jukwa goes on to post the very same information on his page, claiming to have got it from his position in Government.
Later that day Minister Kasukuwere did issue a statement denying media reports that his ministry was mulling amendments to the Indigenisation and Empowerment Act. Baba Jukwa then went on to parade the announcement to his followers as evidence of his credibility.
The latest revelations suggest that hackers may have gained access to Facebook accounts belonging to some of Baba Jukwa's informants. Mystery surrounds the identity of the hackers with online forums buzzing with speculation that the State was behind the operations.
In documents seen by our Harare Bureau, the employee can be seen giving Baba Jukwa specific information about policy announcements that were due to be made by the minister and urging him to post the information on his Facebook page.
It is unclear from the documents who the employee is as a pseudonym, Tebogo Dithobane, was used. It is, however, believed that the individual behind the account is known to the authorities.
It is likely the employee was attached to the Ministry of Indigenisation or the minister's Comoil offices in Selous Avenue, giving them access to Minister Kasukuwere's schedule and movements.
In a message to Baba Jukwa on April 24, 2013, the employee tells Baba Jukwa about a planned policy announcement later that day, saying: "Please protect my ID. Kasukuwere is going to issue a statement denying a change of legislation in the indigenisation. It will happen very soon. Few people know this right now so do not say it direct.
"Do not refer to my profile. I use it on Amai Jukwa page commenting support and you will blow my cover."
Baba Jukwa goes on to post the very same information on his page, claiming to have got it from his position in Government.
Later that day Minister Kasukuwere did issue a statement denying media reports that his ministry was mulling amendments to the Indigenisation and Empowerment Act. Baba Jukwa then went on to parade the announcement to his followers as evidence of his credibility.
The latest revelations suggest that hackers may have gained access to Facebook accounts belonging to some of Baba Jukwa's informants. Mystery surrounds the identity of the hackers with online forums buzzing with speculation that the State was behind the operations.
Source - Sunday News
