Fake news undermining democracy: MPs

MEMBERS of Parliament have raised alarm over the growing threat of fake news, warning that it is distorting public policy and undermining democratic processes This follows an international outcry over the rise in cases of fake news across the globe The United Kingdom recently sanctioned the “Ae”, a Russian organisation operating as a news agency and three of its leaders for their roles in a hybrid influence campaign across Africa.frican Initiativ

The United Kingdom (UK) sanctions, implemented on July 18, 2025, follow a report published in June by VIGINUM, the French government’s watchdog against foreign information manipulation, in partnership with the UK Foreign Office and the European Union External Action Service Opposition Luveve lawmaker Descent Bajila admitted that fake news were a cause for concern, particularly in the digital age where misinformation spreads rapidly

“In this digital age, there is a lot of fake news that is moving around At times it distorts public policy At times it distorts information about implementation of key development processes and programmes,” he said “It’s very important for us as public representatives to appreciate the state at which this information is at now, the speed at which it is growing and develop our own tools and systems and knowledge that we can use to dispel fake news as soon as it is out.”

He added: “While it is very difficult to pace up with patterns

It is important to continuously make the effort to set the record straight, to find out the truth and use the truth to dispel fake news.”

Senator Ritah Ndlovu also highlighted that the spread of false information is damaging to democracy “Fake news, disinformation and misinformation is eroding our democracy and is a cancer that must be stopped, forth with,” Ndlovu said “We are also encouraging all the media, the regulatory authorities, to make sure that they do their role, oversight role, that only credible journalists are media practitioners.”

In the VIGINUM report, investigators revealed that the African Initiative is not an independent news outlet, but a front for Russian intelligence operations and digital disinformation strategies The 40-page report, titled African Initiative: Anatomy of a State-Controlled Influence Operation, laid bare the Initiative’s tactics, ranging from artificial intelligence (AI)-driven fake media to grassroots infiltration via local non-governmental organisations (NGO)

VIGINUM called for greater co-ordination among African media regulators, civil society groups and international watchdogs to counter what it described as a “long-term soft power war” unfolding beneath the radar A member of the parliamentary committee on media, Desire Moyo, said there was a need to guide against fake news to protect democracy “Worse still , in the Zimbabwean context of factions in all existing political parties, alongside economic decay and social disintegration, the misinformation and disinformation has become a catalyst for the fast paced political degeneration,” Moyo told NewsDay Weekender in an interview “Democracy thrives on truth

My office remains a source for constituents seeking reliable information.”

Established in Moscow in September 2023, the African Initiative is suspected of being a front for Russian intelligence services combining overt public diplomacy with covert information manipulation to exploit discontent and exacerbate divides It also promotes the “Africa Corps”, the successor to the Wagner Group African Initiative individuals sanctioned by the UK are all linked to “Project Lakhta”, a digital influence operation founded by the late Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Source: NewsDay Zimbabwe