News / National
Zanu-PF tightens social media control amid internal dissent
20 Feb 2025 at 05:57hrs | Views
Zanu-PF has introduced a new social media policy requiring the authorisation of party WhatsApp groups by leadership as part of efforts to regulate internal communication and curb dissenting voices.
The move comes amid growing opposition within the ruling party against a proposal to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's term by two years to 2030. Mnangagwa has dismissed the plan, stating he will not be persuaded to extend his stay in office.
Sources revealed that Zanu-PF is seeking to control the spread of dissenting opinions through tighter regulation of WhatsApp groups. This was discussed during the party's policy and coordinating meeting chaired by Secretary-General Obert Mpofu at the party's national headquarters on Monday.
The meeting, attended by politburo members, directors, and deputy directors, covered several key issues, including the party's social media policy, cell verification process, and people-oriented programmes for 2025.
Insiders noted that party WhatsApp groups have become battlegrounds as members clash over the term extension issue. "This concern has prompted the party to take drastic measures to regulate social media activities and prevent further dissent," a senior Zanu-PF member, speaking anonymously, said.
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, also the party's Mashonaland East provincial chairperson, recently expressed frustration over insults hurled at him by party youths on WhatsApp for supporting Mnangagwa's term extension bid.
Zanu-PF Director of Information Farai Marapira announced that only designated party secretaries would be authorised as administrators of official social media groups.
"The party needs to be in control and ensure that our members are in legitimate party groups to protect them from misinformation," Marapira said. "This has always been our intent, and we are now formalising the process."
He warned that unauthorised individuals running social media groups under the Zanu-PF name risked legal action. "We cannot allow unstructured communication within a structured organisation. Secretaries for information, from the cell level up to the national level, will oversee official party communications," he added.
All party-affiliated social media groups will now be regularised under the oversight of designated secretaries for information. Marapira emphasized that while members could not be forced to close independent groups, legal action could be pursued against those misusing the party's name.
The policy signals Zanu-PF's growing concern over internal disagreements as factional battles continue to shape the party's future.
The move comes amid growing opposition within the ruling party against a proposal to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's term by two years to 2030. Mnangagwa has dismissed the plan, stating he will not be persuaded to extend his stay in office.
Sources revealed that Zanu-PF is seeking to control the spread of dissenting opinions through tighter regulation of WhatsApp groups. This was discussed during the party's policy and coordinating meeting chaired by Secretary-General Obert Mpofu at the party's national headquarters on Monday.
The meeting, attended by politburo members, directors, and deputy directors, covered several key issues, including the party's social media policy, cell verification process, and people-oriented programmes for 2025.
Insiders noted that party WhatsApp groups have become battlegrounds as members clash over the term extension issue. "This concern has prompted the party to take drastic measures to regulate social media activities and prevent further dissent," a senior Zanu-PF member, speaking anonymously, said.
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, also the party's Mashonaland East provincial chairperson, recently expressed frustration over insults hurled at him by party youths on WhatsApp for supporting Mnangagwa's term extension bid.
Zanu-PF Director of Information Farai Marapira announced that only designated party secretaries would be authorised as administrators of official social media groups.
"The party needs to be in control and ensure that our members are in legitimate party groups to protect them from misinformation," Marapira said. "This has always been our intent, and we are now formalising the process."
He warned that unauthorised individuals running social media groups under the Zanu-PF name risked legal action. "We cannot allow unstructured communication within a structured organisation. Secretaries for information, from the cell level up to the national level, will oversee official party communications," he added.
All party-affiliated social media groups will now be regularised under the oversight of designated secretaries for information. Marapira emphasized that while members could not be forced to close independent groups, legal action could be pursued against those misusing the party's name.
The policy signals Zanu-PF's growing concern over internal disagreements as factional battles continue to shape the party's future.
Source - newsday
