Chombo threatens to arrest people spreading message that basic commodities will vanish

In a press statement released on Sunday, Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo threatened to arrest people who authored the message that basic commodities will disappear from the shelves.

The message that Minister Chombo is referring to has caused massive panic buying as people fear that Zimbabwe will plunge into 2008. The message that has been spreading mainly on WhatsApp reads:

In the next 3 to 5 days things may get very bad. Stock up any food or other basic commodities you may need. The Inflation rate has gone up to 50 percent it means the prices of stuff will be doubling at least once per day. The minister of finance printed excess bond notes to buy US Dollars off the streets early this week so the market may be flooded with useless money. Most shops may no longer be taking swipe transactions because of this further rise in bond note circulation brace yourself for tough times ladies and gentlemen.

Part of the statement released by Chombo reads:

Spreading alarm and despondency is not an expression of democracy nor is it media freedom. It is a criminal offense and is therefore punishable. In the circumstances, Govemrnent is closely monitoring the press and social media reports in question with a view to taking decisive action to deal a telling blow to the perpetrators of the crime in terms of the laws of the country’s criminal justice system.

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Everyone should thus be guided accordingly.

You can view the full press statement below:

PRESS STATEMENT

The Ministry of Home Affair’s attention has been drawn to a sudden spate of irresponsible press and social media reports falsely claiming that there’s chaos in the currency markets that has precipitated widespread panic buying of basic commodities due to their alleged shortage or skyrocketing prices.

It is notable that the running thread of these hyperbolic press and social media reports is their propaganda that the country has suddenly slipped back to the hyperinflationary days of 2008. Of pave concern to the Ministry is that these reports have all the trappings of a politically coordinated criminal agenda by some well-known renegades and malcontents who now seek to disturb the peace in the county to cause alarm and despondency in pursuit of an illegal political programme.

Spreading alarm and despondency is not an expression of democracy nor is it media freedom. It is a criminal offense and is therefore punishable. In the circumstances, Government is closely monitoring the press and social media reports in question with a view to taking decisive action to deal a telling blow to the perpetrators of the crime in terms of the laws of the country’s criminal justice system.
Everyone should thus be guided accordingly.

Hon. Dr I. M. C. Chombo, MP Minister of Home Affairs

Sunday, 24 September 2017