By Itai Muzondo
September 28, 2015 – As if the threats to the mainstream media by the President Robert Mugabe recently were not enough, ZANU PF national secretary for youth affairs and politburo member Pupurai Togarepi on Sunday said his party was preparing ‘to deal with social media users’ who are causing divisions within the ruling party.
On top of the social media users who include the general public, Togarepi said those running online media publications will not be spared.
Addressing a poorly attended belated 21st February celebrations in Masvingo, Togarepi said his party was trying to establish names of the people who are publishing information which is tarnishing the image of the party in order to take stern action against them.
“We are investigating on all people who are responsible for online publications which are taking advantage of WhatsApp and Twitter to further distribute their stories to a wider audience. They are not responsible media.
“As youths, we must be prepared to get out of our comfort zones and defend the revolution. When we get in the fight, let’s remember Benjamin Burombo’s words that we should reserve another blow for other enemies that might want to disturb our cause. We will fight anybody who does not please our President,” Togarepi said.
Togarepi also told college students who constituted the majority of the gathering to shun internet research and rather use traditional text books in order to avoid online news stories.
“To all you students who have come to support this movement, I thank you. It is however my plea that you study hard to be successful, but in your studies, use available text books rather than researching online as a simple way of avoiding online publications,” he said.politics