Weak vs. Worst: understanding the ZiG’s currency performance
CLAIM: It (the ZiG) is currently the worst-performing currency in the world SOURCE: NewsHawks VERDICT: False The NewsHawks, a local online media house on February 11, 2025, claimed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the Zimbabwean currency – the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) – only introduced in April last year – was the worst […]
Limpopo River a shared resource: South Africa doesn’t buy Limpopo water from Zimbabwe
CLAIM: South Africa currently buys water from Zimbabwe that comes from Limpopo river meaning the river belongs to Zimbabwe. SOURCE: Social media account VERDICT: False Ever thought of who owns the rivers that surround Zimbabwe? Interestingly, most of Zimbabwe’s borders are marked by rivers – the mighty Zambezi to the North and the Limpopo to […]
Dew Water: no Ebola, no deaths, just a hoax that refuses to die
CLAIM: Dew bottled water, which killed 180 people in Nigeria, is being distributed in South Africa SOURCE: WhatsApp message VERDICT: False A message on WhatsApp claims that poisoned bottled water from a Tanzanian company is being distributed in South Africa. The claim is that from Tanzania, the water was distributed in Nigeria where it killed […]
Sickeningly sweet: sugar doesn’t directly cause diabetes, but…
CLAIM: Sugar does not cause diabetes SOURCE: Social media post VERDICT: Misleading The relationship between sugar and diabetes is once again being discussed on ‘Twitter streets’, now X. This follows a post from Dr Misheck Ruwende that ‘sugar does not cause diabetes’. This is not the first time he has posted this. He has a […]
What’s in a number: no evidence President Mnangagwa will be 90 in 2028
CLAIM: Mnangagwa will be 90 in 2028 SOURCE: Hopewell Chin’ono on X (formerly Twitter) VERDICT: Inconclusive On February 5, 2025, Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) claiming that President Emmerson Mnangagwa would be 90 years old in 2028. Chin’ono was reflecting on the events leading to the 2017 military removal […]
No snub at the Heroes Acre. President and VP handshake edited out
CLAIM: Here is video footage of ED apparently snubbing not just Chiwenga’s attempted handshake, but also follow-up attempted conversations. SOURCE: Brighton Mutebuka VERDICT: False An account on X, formerly Twitter, with over 24,000 followers, posted a video claiming that President Emmerson Mnangagwa snubbed his vice president Constantino Chiwenga. The full post reads, ‘ED’s tantrum? Here […]
Zimbabwe’s land reform: a complex history, yes but no genocide
CLAIM: Most white farmers were murdered in the evictions. A genocide took place in Zimbabwe men women and children were cut down like blades of grass, their crime was BEING WHITE SOURCE: Social media posts VERDICT: Misleading Newly inaugurated American President Donald Trump recently threw South Africa a curve ball stating in an interview that […]
Mugabe: a death penalty advocate, not an abolitionist
CLAIM: Mugabe was not a fan of death penalty. He said the cries traumatised him when he was in prison. SOURCE: Social media post VERDICT: False Zimbabwe, on the last day of 2024, abolished the death penalty. This followed years of lobbying and political will, especially after President Emmerson Mnangagwa came into power. However, one […]
No physics defying car – Zimbabwean inventor’s radio waves car debunked again
CLAIM: The Saith FEV is a full self powering electric vehicle, which is powered entirely by radio waves. SOURCE: Ministry of Information VERDICT: False Hold onto your hats, folks! Prepare to have your minds blown (and maybe a little bit melted) as we delve into the fantastical tale of the Zimbabwean whiz kid who, defying […]
The legality of postponing elections: it’s complicated
CLAIM: Parliament cannot in terms of the constitution and the law legally postpone elections SOURCE: News Hawks VERDICT: Misleading News Hawks, an online local media house, posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) on 14 January 2025 claiming that the Parliament of Zimbabwe cannot legally postpone elections in the country, according to the constitution and […]
Manga: Umbiko othi inhlawulo yezibhedlela ikhuphukile awusiloqiniso
UMBIKO: Inhlawulo ezibhedlela zeZimbabwe isikhuphukile. UVELA NGAPHI: Umbiko omemetheka ku WhatsApp. ISINQUMO: Ngamanga Umbiko omemetheke kuWhatsApp kumalanga asanda kudlula uthi inhlawulo yezibhedlela zeZimbabwe isikhuphukile. Lumbiko uthi isimemezelo lesi senziwa ngunobhala omkhulu (permanent secretary) kugatsha lwezempilakahle lokunakekelwa kwabantwana, uDr Agnes Mahomva. ‘Esibhedlela seParirenyatwa, abadala sebezahlawula amadoda angamakhulu amabili ($200) kuthi abantwana abaleminyaka engaphansi kwemihlanu (5) bahlawule […]
Old news: Hospital fee hike claims misleading
CLAIM: Hospital fees go up in Zimbabwe SOURCE: Message circulating on WhatsApp VERDICT: Misleading In a WhatsApp message circulated during the first and second week of January 2025, the writer, citing a statement attributed to former Health and Child Care Permanent Secretary, Dr Agnes Mahomva, claims that hospital fees have increased in Zimbabwe. ‘At Parirenyatwa […]
Media Buzz Error: No Munhumutapa Day in General Notice 954 of 2024
CLAIM: The Zimbabwean Government has announced the addition of a new public holiday, Munhumutapa Day, which will be celebrated on the 15th of September 2025. This significant announcement was made in terms of Section 2(1) of the Public Holidays and Prohibition of Business Act [Chapter 10:21], through General Notice 954 of 2024. SOURCE: Various media […]
The ghost of COVID past: Misleading screenshot claims COVID-19 outbreak at Morningside Mediclinic
CLAIM: Covid-19 cases rise to 90 at Morningside Mediclinic SOURCE: Social media platforms VERDICT: False A screenshot of the Sandton Chronicle with the headline Covid-19 cases rise to 90 at Morningside MediClinic has been circulating. The screenshot that FactCheckZW was asked to verify has Monday, January 6 2025 at the top of the article. The […]
2025 is here and so is the tax man. Yes, ZIMRA is taxing anointing oil and merchandise sales by churches
CLAIM: ZIMRA is expecting churches to pay taxes from the sale of goods such as anointing oil, and t-shirts among others which are being produced as part of fundraising activities. SOURCE: NewZimbabwe.com VERDICT: True In an article headlined: ‘ZIMRA cracks whip on churches, taxes anointing oil, merchandise,’ NewZimbabwe.com an online publication in mid December 2024 […]
‘Kissing cousins’: Cousin marriages in Africa not always taboo
CLAIM: You cannot sleep with your cousin (hanzvadzi) in Africa SOURCE: Hopewell Chin’ono VERDICT: False Incest is something that’s frowned upon in almost all cultures. But is the definition uniform throughout? This question arises from a debate on social media on cousin marriages. Zimbabwean influencer, Hopewell Chin’ono, led this debate in November 2024 when he […]
She is Sophia, not Nehanda, and does not belong to Zimbabwe
CLAIM: Zimbabwe has introduced Sophia, its first humanoid robot at the University of Zimbabwe SOURCE: Media Reports VERDICT: False The hype on ‘Zimbabwe’s first humanoid robot’ has been loud and wide. It has been lauded as signaling Zimbabwe’s ‘very bright’ future in Artificial Intelligence. This was by one of the country’s ministers who posted that, […]
Yes, alluvial mining along rivers in Zimbabwe has been banned
CLAIM: GOVERNMENT has gazetted new regulations banning mining activities by individuals granted special permits in response to the environmental damage caused by alluvial mining along several rivers. SOURCE: NewsDay VERDICT: True In a story headlined Govt bans alluvial mining, published on 2 December 2024, the NewsDay, a private daily newspaper claims that the government has […]
Circulating cover page of Chamisa and Cucsman fake – manipulation of old cover page
CLAIM: Cover picture showing Nelson Chamisa and Cucsman was published by Windy City Times SOURCE: Social media posts VERDICT: False An old cover page of Nelson Chamisa with musician/comedian @Cucsman, is once again doing the rounds on X. The cover page purports to be from Windy City Times, a American paper that serves the diverse […]
Choppies exiting Zimbabwe, possible sale on the cards
CLAIM: Botswana headquartered retailer, Choppies Enterprise Limited, will exit the Zimbabwean market amid a deteriorating environment which has seen a surge in the informal sector leaving the formal retailers to battle for crumbs. SOURCE: NewsDay VERDICT: True In an article headlined Rising informal sector drives Choppies out of Zim, published on 2 December 2024, NewsDay, […]
Yaz Plus pill recall: check your batch number
CLAIM: Urgent- if you have #YazPlus at home, take it back to the pharmacy with this letter. It’s been recalled due to concern about whether it’s effective as contraception. #consumerprotection SOURCE: Social media posts VERDICT: True Social media has been abuzz with claims of a defective batch of contraceptive pills that has been distributed. The […]
No evidence that Nelson Chamisa defeated Pres Mnangagwa in past elections
CLAIM: We defeated Zanu PF twice, but they refused to go. SOURCE: Nelson Chamisa in NewZimbabwe.com VERDICT: False In an article published on 8 November 2024, under the headline, ‘Botswana is a signal’ — says Chamisa, claims he beat Mnangagwa twice in elections but he refused to go’, NewZimbabwe.com, an online publication, quotes former Citizens […]
TRUE: Abortion in Zimbabwe only legal in specific cases
CLAIM: In Zimbabwe, abortion is illegal except under specific circumstances, such as cases involving rape, incest, threats to the mother’s health or if the child may be born with defects. Abortion is also punishable by up to five years in prison. SOURCE: NewZimbabwe.com VERDICT: True NewZimbabwe.com, an online publication on November 7, 2024, in an […]
False narrative: Zimbabwe’s economic growth fluctuated, not a steady 3-6%
CLAIM:Over the past five years, Zimbabwe’s economy has grown at an average rate of 3-6% SOURCE: Patrick Chinamasa, ZANU-PF Secretary for Legal Affairs VERDICT: False This is the second claim made by ZANU-PF secretary for legal affairs, Patrick Chinamasa. The claim is one of 31 he made on an X post. Similar claims have been […]
An MP who misses 21 sittings may lose seat
CLAIM: A Member of Parliament (MP) is only allowed to miss 21 consecutive sittings, thereafter, half of the House is allowed to vote and declare a seat vacant. SOURCE: Newzimbabwe.com VERDICT: Misleading NewZimbabwe.com, an online publication, on November 6, 2024, in an article headlined, Insiza constituents call for Legislator’s expulsion from Parliament after missing 100 […]
Chinamasa Exaggerates Mining Sector Growth
CLAIM: Growth in the mining sector output from US$3-4 billion six years ago to an annual output of US$14 billion. SOURCE: Patrick Chinamasa, ZANU PF secretary for Legal Affairs VERDICT: False ZANU-PF’s legal affairs secretary, Patrick Chinamasa, recently shared a list of his party’s achievements that are laying a firm foundation for Zimbabwe’s future prosperity’. […]
Farm to Table: Zimbabwe’s Agricultural Growth Post-Land Reform
CLAIM: Agriculture, another vital sector, has also witnessed noticeable growth, surpassing pre-land reform productions in wheat and tobacco farming. SOURCE: The Chronicle VERDICT: True President Emmerson Mnangagwa addressed the just ended ZANU PF conference Friday, 25th October. Following his speech, the Chronicle in a story headlined ‘Together, we are building a modern Zimbabwe’ and an […]
Beyond the Headlines: The Complex Reality of Maternal Mortality
CLAIM: 2,500 women die giving birth each year. SOURCE: Hopewell Chin’ono VERDICT: False Despite alarming claims circulating on social media, the true picture of Zimbabwe’s maternal mortality crisis is far more complex. The claim around maternity theatres, ‘Zimbabwe’s biggest hospital has only one maternity theatre, built in 1977, and as a result, 2,500 women die […]
EXPLAINER: From Dudzai to Yemurai – How hurricanes, cyclones and tropical storms get their names
It’s almost cyclone season in Southern Africa. The South West Indian Ocean cyclone season starts around November. The 2023-24 season started on 15 November 2023 and ended on 30 April 2025, although in Mauritius and Seychelles it stretched to 15 May 2024. Most of the tropical and subtropical cyclones form in the basin, which is […]
Don’t Be Fooled! $800 World Food Programme Cash Offer is a Scam
CLAIM: World Food Programme – Provide cash assistance. Through the questionnaire, you will have a chance to get $800.00 . SOURCE: Online VERDICT: False, scam A message claiming that the World Food Programme is providing cash assistance and those who respond to a questionnaire stand a chance of winning $800 has been circulating online. When […]
Wait a minute, Tuku’s grave is not a pile of dust
CLAIM: … Tuku’s grave remains a pile of dust without a good tombstone SOURCE: ZimEye VERDICT: False The Tuku family ‘saga’ has been on centre stage for a while in Zimbabwe and almost everyone has something to say. In this time, the late musician, Oliver Mtukudzi’s widow, Daisy received a car while one of his […]
Breast cancer now second most common cancer among Zimbabwean women
3 delays affecting Zimbabwean women with breast cancer CLAIM: Breast cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women after cervical cancer and accounts for 13 percent of all cancers affecting women. SOURCE: The Herald VERDICT: True Imagine a 40 year old Zimbabwean woman, in Malipati village in Chiredzi, finding a lump in their breast. […]
Of concerts, stadia and size: South Africa’s FNB tops the list
CLAIM: FNB is the biggest stadium in Africa SOURCE: Social Media VERDICT: True Africa, a continent renowned for its vibrant cultures, diverse landscapes, and rich history, is also home to some of the world’s most stunning stadiums. From the iconic arenas that have hosted historic matches to the modern masterpieces that stand as architectural marvels, […]
MP’s ‘Cure’ for Prostate Cancer: Misleading and Harmful
CLAIM: Men need to have women and to have sex with them, a lot. Such a man will not have cancer. SOURCE:Dorothy Mashonganyika (Member of Parliament) VERDICT: Misleading This has been a popular claim on social media – and one repeated many times over the years. An account claimed in 2015 that ‘Ejaculating more than […]
Oooh shucks: Bulawayo’s ‘snow’ old picture of a hail storm
CLAIM: Oooh Shucks its (sic) snowed in some parts of Bulawayo: ka snow ‘nyana’ (a little snow) SOURCE: Post on Instagram VERDICT: False The past weekend saw some low temperatures in some parts of Zimbabwe and South Africa. For parts of South Africa, low temperatures would be an understatement. At least for this part of […]
Zimbabwe’s domestic dispute: a case of balancing legality, fairness and affordability in domestic worker wages
How much should domestic workers be earning per month? Who can and who can’t afford domestic help? Should a domestic worker’s salary depend on how much their employer earns? Does Zimbabwe have a minimum wage? These, and more, questions were being tossed back and forth on X. Popular X account,@drjaytee87, posted: ‘Is it fair to […]
Zimbabwe’s Informal Sector: Still Second Largest, But Bolivia No Longer First
CLAIM: The informal sector in Zimbabwe is rated at 64% by the multinationals second only to Bolivia 🇧🇴 SOURCE: Busisa Moyo VERDICT: Partly true Zimbabwean businessman, Busisa Moyo, was engaged in a social media debate on the country’s informal sector and its impact on formal businesses. Commenting on the closure of a branch of a […]
Passport Power: More Than just a Price Tag
CLAIM: Zimbabwean passports are the most expensive in the whole world SOURCE: Account on X VERDICT: False Fancy a trip across borders? All good if you have a passport. The process of applying for a passport differs from country to country, as, of course, does the cost. The cost of the Zimbabwean passport has been […]
Beware of re-contextualised images
A reader has asked if a picture posted by an account on X is current or old. The picture was posted by @matigary with the caption ‘So villagers can’t brew beer, but South African Breweries aka InBev can? 😳’. The account has 174,900 followers and the post garnered 30,000 views and 21 reposts. The picture […]
While South Africa offers some healthcare to immigrants, not all of it is free
CLAIM: South Africa has free public healthcare; all immigrants, ill/legal (sic) benefit. SOURCE: Account on X VERDICT: Misleading Zimbabwean, Hopewell Chin’ono, wrote on X encouraging those in South Africa ‘to organise yourselves so that we can assist you by negotiating with specific medical centres in your local communities’. He said he had ‘spoken on the […]