A ZIMBABWEAN man was on Monday detained in remand prison after he was denied bail by a Harare Magistrate when he appeared in court for allegedly peddling falsehoods about President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s extension of the duration of the national lockdown period to May 3.
Lovemore Zvokusekwa, 36, of Chitungwiza appeared at Harare Magistrates Court on Monday 20 April 2020.
He was arrested on Saturday by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers, who charged him with publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the state.
In court, prosecutors alleged that Zvokusekwa, who is re represented by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, peddled falsehoods when he reportedly circulated a false and unsigned press statement purportedly written and issued by Mnangagwa titled “EXTENSION OF LOCKDOWN PERIOD BY 13 DAYS ONLY.”
The statement advised that Mnangagwa had extended the national lockdown period by 13 days from 20 April 2020 to 3 May 2020.
Zvokusekwa, prosecutors charged, disseminated the false press statement on different WhatsApp platforms using his Huawei mobile phone handset and yet Mnangagwa had not written or signed the purported press statement.
Prosecutors said some witnesses who received the false press statement will testify against Zvokusekwa during his trial.
Zvokusekwa, who was remanded in prison custody, will return to court on 13 May 2020.
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