Opposition parties condemn plan to regulate social media

Opposition parties in the country have condemned government’s plan to regulate  social media

State media reported that government  is drawing up legal and policy instruments to govern information communication technologies. According to reports in state media government’s thirst to regularise social media is hinged on the need to protect citizens’ rights following a surge in social media abuse through propagating falsehoods, defamation, character assassination and national security threats.

However, opposition parties have scoffed at the move to regulate social media.In an interview with 263chat, MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu said Zanu PF will not succeed in regulating social media.

“We are happy that in as much as Zanu PF tries to regularise social media, they are not going to succeed as they do not have capacity” he said adding that countries like China are still facing challenges in regulating the internet.

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He also said regularising social media is tantamount to muzzling freedom of the press citing social media as a powerful tool for mass mobilization particularly for opposition parties.

“Zanu PF has realised that social media has become a powerful tool for mass mobilization particularly for the opposition and hence they want to silence any criticism on social media ,” he said

He also said Zanu PF has deliberately restricted the opening up of electronic media, explaining why Zimbabwe has no single independent television station since independence.

“Zimbabwe does not have a genuine private television  since independence because Zanu PF has deliberately clamp down on the opening up of electronic media,” added Gutu

Meanwhile, People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s leader, Tendai Biti said regulating social media exposes  Zanu PF’s desperation.

“Regulating social media shows Zanu PF’s whole mark of desperation and it shows beyond reasonable doubt that Zanu PF is a clueless and primitive government,” said Biti.

He added that that his party will scaling up calls to force Zanu PF out of power.

This is not the first time that government has threatened to silence media, President Mugabe once slammed private media saying they exaggerate stories to increase their sales.