Harare (New Ziana) -Claims that MDC Alliance vice president Tendai Biti was abducted show a growing tendency by the opposition to peddle falsehoods to soil the country’s image as well as solicit international sympathy, a cabinet Minister has said.

In a statement, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said the claims on social media that Biti was abducted were false.

“The latest example being the fake news circulated on 08 November 2021 about the alleged abduction of MDC-A vice leader Tendai Biti by five armed men. The falsehood went viral, with Government being falsely accused of orchestrating forced disappearances and abduction of political opponents to silence the opposition.

“The MDC- A took a long time to respond to the false news before its spokesperson, Fadzai Mahere, issued a statement dismissing the fake news.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has confirmed that no report of such a matter has been made at any police station by Tendai Biti or his party,” said Kazembe.

In a post on Twitter, the police said : “The ZRP has checked with all police stations and no report of alleged abduction or kidnapping of Tendai Biti has been received. The police is currently monitoring the situation.”

Kazembe said it was unfortunate the latest false abduction claims came hot on the heels of a fact finding visit by a United Nations rapporteur.

” The latest story coincides with growing calls for the unconditional removal of sanctions against the country, following UN rapporteur, Professor Alena Douhan’s report, whose findings the MDC A, particularly Biti, disputed,” he said.

He said the abduction narrative followed the same template used before in the staged disappearances of medical doctor Peter Magobbeyi and MDC – A youth activists Johanna Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.

“Law enforcement agencies will unearth those behind peddling of such false narratives and ensure that the perpetrators face the law,” he said.

New Ziana