adminRay Bande Manicaland Bureau
Police have dismissed viral social media reports of an increase in serial killers who are on the prowl across the country.
Of late, there has been frenzied reporting on unsubstantiated cases of beheadings on the mobile messaging application, WhatsApp.
In his presentation during a media workshop on election reporting in Mutare yesterday, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) deputy spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said the reports were baseless.
“It is sad that we continue to have media reports indicating that there are human slayers on the prowl. According to the social media reports, they are allegedly beheading people across the country from Victoria Falls to Bulawayo, Chivhu to Mutare.
“The question is, did we witness anybody being taken to a hospital mortuary here in Zimbabwe after such incidences? Did anyone attend any funeral of a person who was beheaded? We have been receiving calls from as far as South Africa, with people expressing fear over the safety of their loved ones back home,” said Chief Supt Nyathi.
“People are now afraid to send their children to school, especially in rural areas. Some are now afraid to go and do their chores in the fields. The situation we now have is that a herd boy who is found in the bush or any other lone man is attacked by citizens, as they are now being accused of being the human slayers. It is sad that social media has created all this fallacy,” he said.
Chief Supt Nyathi, however, applauded the mainstream media for correcting some of the misconceptions.
Separately, the police has also urged the media to desist from using hate speech as the country heads for elections.
“It is encouraging to note that mainstream media has been able to remain credible in the face of social media lies.
“We applaud the mainstream media for being able to set the record straight and being a source of credible information, unlike social media.
“As we go for elections, we urge the media to remain responsible and report fairly and impartially. It is also important for the media to desist from use of hate speech as the country heads for elections.
“We are all aware of what transpired in Rwanda because of the use of hate speech. Let not the media be found propagating hatred and divisions among Zimbabweans before, during and after the election period,” he said.
The media workshop on safety and security in Mutare was organised and funded by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA).
Similar workshops have since been held in Bulawayo, Masvingo and Gweru.
Online Reporter