Civil Society Warns Against Election Misinformation on Social Media

The Consortium for Civil Society on Governance and Elections has appealed to all political players to stop using social media to mislead citizens and spread misinformation and disinformation.

Consortium Chairperson Isaac Mwanza said political leaders should not be the ones driving confusion, fear and tension among citizens by circulating unverified information. Speaking to ZNBC News in an interview, he warned that the misuse of social media had the potential to incite violence and cause unnecessary alarm.

Mr. Mwanza said political propaganda frequently sows fear within communities, noting that some parts of the country had already seen violence linked to unfounded allegations of pre-marked ballot papers. Such claims, he cautioned, were dangerous precisely because they spread quickly and were rarely verified before taking hold.

He stressed, however, that election monitors and observers deployed across the country had access to detailed information from polling stations and had found no evidence whatsoever of rigging. This, he said, should reassure the public that the process remained credible and transparent.

Mr. Mwanza urged political players with genuine grievances to pursue them through the established and lawful channels, rather than airing unverified claims online. Doing so, he added, would allow the electoral process to continue peacefully and protect the hard-won calm that has characterised the elections.

He appealed to leaders and citizens alike to exercise restraint and responsibility, reminding them that words shared online carry real consequences for peace and national unity.