Paul Nyathi|The government information spinning department continues to expose its internal confusion as senior officials in the department continue to issue contradicting statements.

In a latest debacle, Deputy Chief Secretary – Communications in the President’s Office, George Charamba has come out openly opposing Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi on who has been tampering with the internet service provision in the contry.

Mutodi shocked all and sundry on Tuesday when he told the nation in a special government program on the Zbc that government had not disconnected the internet rather claiming it was only congesting.

Charamba however said following the demonstrations that rocked the country early this week, government felt it was necessary to close the internet allegedly to reduce further harm in the country.

Mangwana who is accompanying President Mnangagwa on his two week tour, alleged that the internet, particularly social media was used to coordinate the violence and the government had to step in.

He was speaking to the ZBC in Azerbaijan.

“The internet was the tool used to coordinate the violence, in other words it was part and parcel of the accessory of tools put in place to ensure that there was maximum damage on our society and naturally when you are reacting to a conspiracy of that nature….you ensure that society is protected. But is it not interesting how when we are carrying our dead to the cemetery, at a time when we are counting losses that run into millions of dollars, someone is worried about the internet. I think the Western world has a proverbial way of putting it: ‘Worrying about or crying over the plumage of a bird and forgetting the dying bird,’ does that make sense to you? You expect us to preserve the internet and ensure that there is maximum damage to our society? What is wrong with our scale of values? I don’t think Zimbabweans are that confused. What we are looking at is a weapon of choice which was being deployed to try and coordinate violence, which has now been removed, thanks to the prompt action of the state, there is no way you expect us to sacrifice a national good for the sake of internet. If they want uninterrupted internet, let them abide by the law,” he said.

Charamba accused the MDC for organising the protests.

“This violence was pre-planned, pre-arranged by the MDC and its affiliates and if you could remember last month, there was a statement issued by a cabinet minister indicating that there were a number of meetings held by affiliates of the MDC and some foreigners working towards fomenting trouble in our country. People did not take that seriously and just before we left for this 4-nation tour, the President issued a statement through the relevant ministry, which also indicated that there was this preparation for violence. But above all, last year and soon after the elections, the MDC indicated that now that they had lost the elections and their constitutional court appeal, they were going to mount a series of demonstrations, whose overall goal was to try and force Zanu PF to accommodate them in the Government of National Unity (GNU), so really this is a culmination of a programme that was solely and squarely prepared and executed by the MDC, therefore which should be put on the doorstep of the MDC by way of responsibility and that is basically what is going to happen,” said Charamba.

He also said the narrative linking the fuel price hike and violence is false, adding that the ZCTU did workers a disservice by blocking them from reporting for duty.

“Yes there is a right to demonstrate but that right does not in any way give the licence to destroy life, property and to stop others from going to work. I find it very strange that the ZCTU, which claims to be working in the interests of the workers, stands in the way of the same workers to stop them from going to work, in other words putting in jeopardy their very prospects of employment by depressing the economy, just how do you grow a labour force against a background of such activities economic wise. If you look at the social type that was in the streets and causing all the damage, those are not employees,” he said.

Over 700 people have been arrested following the unrests.

Source Zbc News online