HARARE – In a move aimed at curbing dissenting voices and tightening its control over internal communication, Zanu-PF has crafted a social media policy that mandates the authorisation of party WhatsApp groups by the leadership. This development comes amid growing opposition within the party to a push for a two-year extension of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term, potentially keeping him in power until 2030.
While President Mnangagwa himself has dismissed the term extension proposal, stating he will not be persuaded to prolong his stay, Zanu-PF is reportedly seeking to control the spread of dissenting opinions by regulating WhatsApp groups, which have become a key platform for internal discussions.
The new policy emerged from the party’s policy and co-ordinating meeting held at Zanu-PF headquarters on Monday. The meeting, chaired by secretary-general Obert Mpofu and attended by politburo members, directors, and deputy directors, covered a range of issues, including the social media policy, the state of the party, the cell verification process, and people-oriented programmes for 2025.
Insiders revealed that the policy was driven by increased concerns over party members participating in social media groups that challenge the bid by Mnangagwa’s allies to extend his term limit. “This concern has prompted the party to take drastic measures to regulate social media activities and prevent further dissent,” a senior Zanu-PF member, speaking anonymously, disclosed. “The party’s WhatsApp groups have turned out to be a ‘war zone’ as members clash over party issues.”
The source added that “the main issue at the centre of the discussion is the term extension. Those who are against it are freely expressing their thoughts, but there is fear that they might influence others who are pro the idea.”
The issue of WhatsApp group conduct has already caused friction within the party. Local Government and Public Works minister Daniel Garwe, who also serves as Zanu-PF’s Mashonaland East provincial chairperson, recently voiced his concern over insults directed at him by party youths on WhatsApp groups. Garwe has been targeted for his strong support of the term extension proposal.
Under the new policy, Zanu-PF director of Information Farai Marapira stated that the party’s secretaries would be the only authorised social media group administrators. “The party will need to be in control and ensure that our members are in legitimate party groups because we need to protect our membership from having bogus groups created for them, which will be disseminating anti-party messaging,” Marapira explained.
He clarified that while the policy is new, the intent to control and monitor party communications has always been present. “So it is not a policy that has been promulgated, but this has always been something that we as a party have always been intent on and have always been doing.”
Marapira emphasised the party’s desire to protect its members and ensure they receive accurate information. “I think, like any organisation, we would like to protect our members and keep them connected to true party messages,” he said.
He further warned that unauthorised individuals who run social media groups using the party name risk legal action. “We cannot have a party where we have structures, but our communication methodology is unstructured,” Marapira stated. “That is irregular. We have got secretaries for information from the cell, going up to our national secretary for information.”
Marapira confirmed that all party groups will be regularised and brought under the control of the secretaries for information. “These secretaries need to be substantial and substantive so that we move away from a situation where anyone who is not even a party member can open a group.”
While the party will not force existing unauthorised groups to close, Marapira said, “We cannot force people to close, but we can seek legal remedy for people who use the party name without the right to do so, which I believe is just procedural.”
The move to control WhatsApp groups highlights the growing importance of social media in Zimbabwean politics and the efforts by Zanu-PF to manage its internal narrative and prevent the spread of dissenting opinions, particularly concerning sensitive issues such as the presidential term limit.
