Here is how a WhatsApp message on Zimbabwe President’s alleged death from COVID-19 vaccine landed a couple in soup
A young husband, Vongai Nomatter Chiminya, and his wife, Devine Panashe Maregere, have been jailed after forwarding an audio message to each other and later on, on a WhatsApp group, alleging that President Mnangagwa had died on Monday 25 January 2021 as a result of a COVID-19 vaccination,
They were found guilty after been charged with publishing or communicating falsehoods by sharing the message on a WhatsApp group.
The couple, Chiminya aged 20 years and Maregere also aged 20 years, were, however, on Friday 29 January 2021 ordered to pay RTGS$15 000 bail each by Beitbridge Magistrate Toendepi Zhou and ordered not to post any material on social media to do with government business.
Prosecutors told Magistrate Zhou that the couple on Tuesday 26 January 2021 unlawfully and intentionally forwarded an audio message to each other and later on, on a WhatsApp group alleging that President Mnangagwa had died on Monday 25 January 2021 as a result of a COVID-19 vaccination, which was administered to him at his ruling ZANU PF party headquarters.
Chiminya, prosecutors alleged, first received the audio message on her mobile phone number after it had been shared on a WhatsApp group titled “Ruwadzano Rwemadzimai” by a person only identified as Molly, who used a South African registered sim card.
Chiminya reportedly forwarded the message to her husband, who later on circulated the same message on a WhatsApp group titled “Agents and Runners, Beitbridge”.
Prosecutors said Chiminya, who is unemployed and Maregere, who is employed as a “runner” at Express Best Clearing Company, had no lawful right to act in the manner which they allegedly did.
After arresting the couple, ZRP members confiscated their mobile phone handsets, which will be used as exhibits during their trial.
The couple returns to court on 5 March 2021.
