Zimbabwe president threatens 20 years in jail for fake lockdown statement

Emmerson Mnangagwa's signature was purportedly used on statement that claimed the country's lockdown had been extended

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the author of the controversial document should be jailed. Reuters

Zimbabwe's president on Tuesday threatened to jail the author of a statement – purportedly bearing the leader's signature – that claimed the lockdown to contain the coronavirus had been extended.

Emmerson Mnangagwa told state broadcaster ZBC the statement, which was circulated on social media last week and was immediately denied by the government, was a fake.

"That is absolutely nonsense. I have never made such a statement," Mr Mnangagwa said.

"If we catch this person it must be exemplary and they must go in for at least at level 14, which is 20 years' imprisonment. I think we need to demonstrate that we don't want false news to be circulated."

The southern African nation last month published lockdown regulations, which included jail terms of up to 20 years for people who spread falsehoods regarding the outbreak.

National police spokesman Paul Nyathi said more than 5,000 people had been arrested for venturing outside their homes without permission.

Mr Mnangagwa said his Cabinet would meet this week to decide whether to end, adjust or extend the country's 21-day lockdown.

The authorities said three people died and 17 people have been infected in the country of 15 million people. More than 600 people had been tested by Monday night.

In the past week, Zimbabwe has used the army to help the police enforce the restrictions.

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights group said this had resulted in an increase in cases of residents being beaten by the security forces for defying the lockdown.

Mr Nyathi said police had not received any official complaints of abuse from residents.

The lawyers have approached the High Court on behalf of two Zimbabweans who said they were abused by members of the security forces.

"This application seeks an order to protect residents from heavy-handed action by police and soldiers who are invading people's homes/yards and assaulting people, ordering them to stay indoors," they said in a statement.

Zimbabwe's security forces have a history of using heavy-handed tactics when enforcing the law and against opponents of the government.

In an editorial on Monday, The Herald, a state-owned newspaper, criticised the police for harassing journalists doing their work during the lockdown, including forcing some to delete pictures and video that captured abuses by the security forces.

Mr Nyathi said he was not aware of the incidents.