2 Bulawayo women are in court for forwarding a fake press release with the president signature that supposedly extended the lockdown by 13 days on WhatsApp, The Chronicle reports.
The 2, Prisca Gumbo from Mpopoma suburb and Renah Takudzwa Muhambi from Bulawayo’s Hillside suburb appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Shepherd Mjanja yesterday facing charges of publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the State as defined in section 31 (a) (i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
It is the state’s case that:
Between April 7 and 10, Gumbo and Muhambi allegedly published a false Press statement purporting to have been issued and signed by the President
Accused persons then circulated the fake document on different WhatsApp platforms using their cellphones. Gumbo used a Samsung JS1 with an Econet line while Muhambi used a Huawei with an Econet number to forward the fake message
If convicted, the 2 faces up to 20 years in jail. The 2 are both out on bail.
More: The Chronicle