Staff Reporter
The ruling ZANU PF has dismissed as fake and grossly malicious assertions circulating on various social media sites insinuating that the Party had banned women from wearing miniskirts and trousers.
In a statement yesterday, the Party’s spokesperson, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, said the Party fought for the empowerment of women and would not do anything that infringes women’s rights and freedom.
“The Revolutionary Party ZANU PF distances itself from circulating fake news saying the Party is lobbying or mooting for the disbandment of miniskirts and trousers for women. The fake news whose origins has been traced to an NGO allied to the opposition parties reflect the views of that organisation and its handlers who have no respect for women, women’s rights and our culture.
“The liberation struggle for the independence of our Republic from colonial rule was fought and won by combat men and women and trousers had no gender,” said Cde Moyo.
The Party’s spokesperson added that it was ridiculous for a Party like ZANU PF that was formed to empower women, among other things, to then be accused of infringing women’s rights and freedom.
Cde Moyo said the false story reflected a new low for the MDC Alliance and he reminded all political players that spreading fake news to tarnish the image of ZANU PF would not salvage their falling political fortunes or heal factionalism in their parties.
The ZANU PF spokesperson added that what was worrying was that the fake news was being generated in the name of the acting Political Commissar Cde Patrick Chinamasa by the MDC Alliance.
He added that fake news being spread by the MDC Alliance was a sign of desperation and it exposes the immaturity of the MDC Alliance’s leadership.
This is not the first time that fake news was spread to tarnish the image of ZANU PF. Last week, the Newsday was left with egg on the face when its story which insinuated that the ruling party had failed to fulfill its electoral promises was dismissed as misleading after ZANU PF provided evidence showing that it had indeed fulfilled much of its 2018 electoral promises to the satisfaction of the majority of citizens.
