Pervasive disinformation in Zimbabwe worrying

THE world over, the twin scourges of disinformation and to a lesser extent, mal-information, are spreading and becoming a more complex phenomenon by the day based on emerging and ever-morphing techniques of deception.

With the proliferation of social media globally, disinformation has gone through metamorphosis and a growth spurt to become one of the greatest dangers to democracy and the respect for democratic institutions.

This danger has been exposed even more by activities that used social media as a weapon of subversion through disinformation during Zimbabwe’s recent general elections and even now, after the polls.

Over the years, the spread of false information has been steadily increasing, fuelled largely by social media platforms that enable falsehoods to spread unchecked and with reckless abandon.

As a result, it has become increasingly difficult for Zimbabweans to discern truth from fiction.

Disinformation refers to the deliberate spreading of deceitful or misleading information with the intention of deceiving or manipulating public opinion.

A number of tools have been used in disinformation campaigns in Zimbabwe.

Tools for dissemination of this vice include manufactured amplification (boosting of disinformation articles, pictures and videos), bots (social media accounts operated by computer programmes), astroturf campaigns (masking real sponsor of message, usually to give false impression that it comes from genuine grassroots activism), micro-targeting (using consumer data to target audiences) and deep fakes (digitally altered or fabricated videos or audios).

A doctored deep fake video of His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, conceding electoral defeat was widely circulated, as the nation awaited the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission announcement of election results.

The potential damage of such nefarious activities is incalculable.

Zimbabwe has experienced an alarming upsurge in disinformation campaigns, stimulating tensions and mistrust amongst citizens, especially in the socio-political arena.

During the 2023 harmonised elections, Zimbabwe once again witnessed propagation of fake news articles and videos that were spread via different social media platforms.

These often purport to be news stories, but in reality, they are disinformation campaigns against the ruling party, ZANU PF.

Distorting facts, disseminating false narratives and promoting divisive agendas, disinformation is designed to erode trust in democratic institutions.

By actively attacking the traditional media, both “State” and “independent”, these disinformation campaigns leave the populace without a full grasp of the truth.

There can be no freedom of choice when the ability of citizens to make informed decisions is curtailed.

Disinformation serves to sow division and distrust among citizens.

It serves the agendas of divisionists well. It is used to continually foment tribal, regional, political and religious differences and distrust.

By exacerbating disinformation, existing social divides, polarisation, enmity and distrust grow within society.

False narratives and inflammatory content often stoke ethno-political tensions, leading to violence and social unrest, as witnessed in the recent political manipulation of the ugly scenes, as seen at Barbourfields Stadium during a football match between Dynamos and Highlanders.

Such divisions hinder national progress, obstructing efforts towards unity and reconciliation.

Zimbabwe’s international reputation has taken a huge knock as a result of this vice.

Tragically so at a time the country is pursuing the mending of relations with the West under the engagement and re-engagement drive, a cardinal pillar of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

False reports and deep fakes have been circulated by foreign entities, often with the intention of damaging Zimbabwe’s image and reputation.

For example, false reports have been circulated by renowned journalists claiming that Zimbabwe’s healthcare system was on the verge of collapse, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, Zimbabwe excelled and handled the pandemic in a solid and impressive manner, surpassing many Western healthcare systems, proving the allegations on social media to be false.

The Government has taken steps and continues to try and combat the spread of disinformation.

For instance, the Government has introduced legislation to regulate social media platforms and has established a cyber-security unit tasked with monitoring and addressing online threats.

Additionally, the Government has created a public awareness campaign aimed at educating citizens about the dangers of disinformation and encouraging them to fact-check information before sharing it online.

Traditional media still upholds, by and large, the ethos of fair reportage, but is, however, a waning flame in the winds of this disinformation onslaught.

Disinformation campaigns have portrayed many traditional media outlets as falsely biased and unreliable, as part of the campaign to disinform the populace.

This is particularly so with State-owned newspapers, yet they are the remaining island of factual news in a flood of disinformation.

The populace is being further divorced from genuine and fair reportage.

However, addressing the disinformation scourge requires a multifaceted approach involving all stakeholders.

Government institutions, media organisations, civil society, and citizens must collaborate in earnest, to counter disinformation effectively.

This includes strengthening media literacy.

This can be achieved by promoting literacy programmes to help citizens critically analyse information sources, identify disinformation tactics and distinguish between reliable and unreliable news, promoting fact-checking, implementing prohibitive legislative measures and cooperating with international partners in combating global disinformation networks that transcend national boundaries.

While regulation and education are important, it is also crucial to address the underlying factors that contribute to the spread of false information.

This includes addressing issues of hidden political agendas and lack of access to information, which can make people more vulnerable to disinformation.