By Parliamentary Reporter– Zanu PF legal affairs secretary Patrick Chinamasa has been assigned to spearhead efforts to neutralize online dissent against Mnangagwa’s “ED2030” agenda as the party escalates its crackdown on digital activism, targeting individuals and groups using social media to challenge President Mnangagwa’s proposed continued rule.
Speaking at a Zanu PF meeting in Mutare over the weekend, Chinamasa reaffirmed the party’s commitment to Mnangagwa’s continued rule, declaring, “President Dr. ED Mnangagwa’s leadership has brought invaluable progress to our nation. We will not relent in our efforts to persuade him to accept our unanimous support for his tenure until 2030.”
However, Chinamasa also issued a stern warning to digital activists, vowing to unmask those who use anonymous accounts to criticize the government. “Ghost accounts cannot hide you; we have the means to identify perpetrators of malicious social media activity, and they will face consequences,” he warned.
Escalating the Digital Clampdown
Under the pretext of curbing misinformation and protecting national stability, Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services Minister Jenfan Muswere has announced plans to introduce new regulations targeting online activities. Speaking at a Ministers Meet the Media event last week, Muswere described social media as a “double-edged sword” that, while enabling engagement, is also being “misused by activists and critics to undermine government interests.”
“Social media is not properly governed, and this has led to a situation where people are chasing shadows—shadows that have no meaning; shadows run by ghost accounts operated by individuals seeking to demonize their own country,”Muswere stated.
He also accused former journalists of transforming into “activists-for-hire,” using digital platforms to push political agendas without verification. He insisted that upcoming laws would ensure accountability and prevent social media from being weaponized against the state.
“Part of our responsibility as a ministry is to ensure that social media is governed effectively. We are preparing new legislation to regulate these platforms and hold users accountable,” he added.
Mnangagwa’s Deepening Authoritarianism
Since ousting Robert Mugabe in a military coup in 2017, Mnangagwa initially portrayed himself as a reformist leader. However, his administration has been defined by increasing authoritarianism, the suppression of independent media, and a crackdown on opposition voices. His government has repeatedly targeted activists, journalists, and opposition politicians under the guise of maintaining national security.
Legislation such as the Cyber and Data Protection Act (2021) has already been used to silence critics, with individuals arrested for social media posts deemed critical of the government. Human rights organizations have documented cases of abductions, arbitrary arrests, and judicial harassment of dissenting voices.
Power Struggle with Chiwenga Driving the Crackdown?
The latest crackdown on digital activism comes amid rising tensions between Mnangagwa and his deputy, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga. While Mnangagwa’s faction pushes for his continued rule until 2030, Chiwenga’s camp has been quietly positioning itself for a leadership takeover.
Chiwenga, the former military general who played a decisive role in the 2017 coup, has long been seen as Mnangagwa’sbiggest political rival. His allies within the military and intelligence services remain powerful, and sources within Zanu PF suggest that the digital clampdown is partly aimed at weakening Chiwenga’s influence.
Social media platforms have become a battleground for political factions within the ruling party, with activists and whistleblowers leaking information that exposes corruption and internal disputes. Analysts argue that Mnangagwa’s new digital crackdown is not just about controlling opposition voices but also about preventing internal party rivals from using online platforms to undermine his leadership.
State-Controlled Media and Narrative Engineering
Muswere emphasized that Zimbabwe already has a structured governance system to ensure the public has access to “accurate information.” He urged journalists to rely solely on government sources, reinforcing Zanu PF’s efforts to monopolize information.
“The media has a critical role in nation-building, in terms of identifying any issues, negative or positive, that impact our Vision 2030. We urge journalists to be ethical, verify facts, and seek information from official government platforms,”Muswere stated.
Critics argue that these remarks reflect a broader agenda to erode press freedom and consolidate state control over media narratives. Zimbabwe ranks poorly on global press freedom indices, with state-controlled media dominating the landscape while independent journalists face increasing persecution.
Global Trends vs. Zimbabwe’s Digital Repression
The push to regulate social media aligns with global trends, as many countries have introduced cybersecurity laws. South Africa’s Cybercrimes Act addresses digital offences, the UK’s Computer Misuse Act (1990) governs online threats, and the US has the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and Communications Decency Act to regulate digital spaces.
However, Zimbabwe’s approach is viewed as more repressive, given its history of using such laws to silence opposition. The 2021 Data Protection Act was initially presented as a cybersecurity measure but has been weaponized to justify surveillance and targeting of critics. The proposed new laws signal yet another step toward deepening digital authoritarianism.
As Mnangagwa tightens his grip on power, digital spaces remain a critical front in Zimbabwe’s ongoing political struggle, with the government determined to control the narrative—both online and offline.