Don’t abuse Whatsapp for political gain

EDITOR — I would like to appreciate the technological advancement that has coined ‘Whatsapp’ as a cheaper social media platform to society.

Whatsapp has eased communication within families, businesses, churches and society as a whole.

However, I have just discovered that this noble social media platform is being abused, especially for political reasons.

Yes, Whatsapp might be abused in a number of ways but the way it’s being abused politically is very touching. Political issues are a bit sensitive to politically driven countries like Zimbabwe.

People in Africa take their countries’ politics seriously and in some case you will find that lives are lost as a result of politics.

In that situation you find people formulating and circulating political issues on Whatsapp, thereby disturbing and compromising peace.

I will cite an example where a message was created and circulated through the Whatsapp that there is a group 300 people who had been deployed in Zimbabwe to kill people.

The whole country went in tremor only to realise that it was a hoax with ulterior motives to tarnish the new dispensation.

Respected peoples’ pictures are animated to suit someone’s desire and political interests.

This is a total disgrace. The government must not waste money on creating a ministry to curb this behaviour.

The money must rather be used for some other developmental issues other than these unnecessary corrective issues.

We can joke and do all sorts of funny on Whatsapp but let’s not do the same with issues so sensitive to the society.

I want to urge those who might need to campaign, as we head towards the elections, not to use this social media platform.

Those who have enough knowledge of social media know that the information from these media is not well founded and authentic.

Someone has to wait for confirmation from the television, radio or press news.

Conclusively, let me again urge members of the public to use the social media in a way that brings happiness, teachings and peace to the society other than creating societal unrest.

Aaron A Kanyoza Mutare