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‘Baba Jukwa’ Facebook page riles Zim’s Zanu-PF

By , IT in government editor
Zimbabwe , 12 Jun 2013

‘Baba Jukwa’ Facebook page riles Zim’s Zanu-PF

An unidentified source is using popular social network Facebook to shake up Zimbabwean politics posting daily revelations of alleged wrongdoings by that country’s leaders.

The Facebook page run by a “Baba Jukwa” posts a range from ‘exposés’ that detail alleged plans by President Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) party to ‘rig’ general elections to naming officials said to have led a government crackdown against the opposition in the western region of Matabeleland.

To date the Facebook page has received more than 141,000 likes, with each post receiving as many as 390 comments.

On the page, Jukwa describes himself as “concerned father, fighting nepotism and directly linking community with their leaders, government, MPs and ministers.”

According to reports Jukwa says he’s a senior member of Mugabe’s Zanu-PF.

However, few critics and supporters of Jukwa doubt that he is a member of the ruling party, it has been reported.

A post which was made some 7 hours ago signed by Jukwa encourages Zimbabweans to like the page and not be intimidated.

“Zimbabwe how are you, I can’t sleep thinking of how I can deliver my country from these evil security goons. Yes the plan is there and I only need your backup. I know some are scared to like this page yet they know it is the only way forward; we have a lot of people who are scared to like this page, technology is good for us all… Don’t be intimidated,” it reads.

Zanu-PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo said, “We are not worried at all about Baba Jukwa because he wants to cause confusion and conflict within the party, but he won’t get it.”

Gumbo added that Zanu-PF was focused on defeating rival Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in the elections so the party can "spearhead our land reform programme and intensify our indigenisation and empowerment".

Mugabe’s Zanu-PF and MDC have governed in a coalition since 2009.

The southern African country is further expected to hold its presidential elections on July 31, as ordered by the Constitutional court.

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