‘It’s not true’
GOVERNMENT has refuted claims attributed to the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Dora Siliya that it will not support a Southern Province football team on account of the rich people hailing from that province.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services acting permanent secretary Isaac Chipampe said in a statement that at no time did the Minster, who is government spokesperson, speak to a reporter purported to have issued the same story.
Mr Chipampe said Government was concerned that unscrupulous people have taken to concocting stories about leaders aimed at denigrading them in the eyes of the public.
He said the State would not tolerate such criminal acts, adding that the laws would be strengthened to deter abusers from such activities, failure to which those found wanting would be arrested.
The government has since urged youths to be aware of online stories made up by those wishing to sow seeds of hatred in the country, but that there was need to pray for such people so that they are freed from hatred. “It is clear that some quarters of society are hell-bent on pushing a tribal agenda, and as the gov- ernment we want to put it clear that any statement from the chief government spokesperson shall be authenticated by a signed and stamped media stamped media statement,” he said.
Mr Chipampe has since advised the citizens to consider such reports as false to be treated with the contempt they deserve.