HOME Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema, has said Government will introduce new laws to regulate social media and warned individuals making abduction claims to prove the allegations or face jail.
The Minister’s comments come on the heels of abduction of Dr Peter Mugombeyi, who has since been found and is admitted at a local hospital under treatment for torture and beatings.
Revelations to date show Dr Magombeyi was burnt at his privates.
Asked if he has noticed that the alleged abductors burnt his son at his privates, Dr Magombeyi’s father told ZimEye via phone, “Ahh izvo chingotisiirai, izvo chingotisiirai. – Those things why don’t you leave them to us, leave them to us.”
ZimEye also contacted Dr Magombeyi’s brother, Kenneth who sounded withdrawn only saying, ” I cannot talk right now.” ZimEye is reliably told Dr Magombeyi sustained injuries at his privates consistent with torture by some kind of burning, whose kind could not be established.
Ambassador Mathema reiterate claims from his colleagues in ZANU PF that there are foreign elements working with opposition political parties, like the MDC, to create false abduction cases in order to soil the name of the Government.
Dr Magombeyi was found dumped in Nyabira outside Harare five days after his abduction.
“We need to craft laws to penalise anyone who makes false allegations against the Government.
“Anybody who lies against the State must go to jail. We can’t have a situation where anyone can say anything and walk scot-free. This nonsense must stop,” said Mathema.
He dismissed Dr Magombeyi’s abductions claims as “outright lies” adding that those who made the claims, will be made to account for their words and actions.
Mathema said the allegations caused panic and disturbed internal peace as well as relations with other countries.
He said it was prudent that new laws be gazetted to govern the use of social media.
“May I caution the media, human rights lawyers and civic organisations against interfering with police investigations through issuing unverified statements, some of which border on obstructing the course of justice,” he said.
“My ministry is committed in ensuring that the police conduct comprehensive investigations with a view of clearly unearthing what happened in Dr Magombeyi’s case.”