FactCheckZW
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About FactCheckZW
Zimbabwe factchecking and media literacy platform, sharing fact checked articles and media literacy tips. It is Zimbabwe's first and only IFCN verified fact checking organisation, and second in the region after Africa Check.
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There are claims that the late former president Robert Mugabe was not a fan of the death penalty. We checked. He was. He is on record acknowledging that if it is scrapped, it would be because Mnangagwa, who was anti death penalty, would have prevailed. By the time the law came into effect, Zimbabwe had not carried out any executions for almost 20 years, effectively establishing a de facto moratorium on capital punishment. This prolonged period without executions created momentum for formal abolition. This comprehensive process, driven by a combination of legislative action, political will, public support, and a de facto moratorium, ultimately led to the historic abolition of the death penalty in Zimbabwe. https://factcheckzw.org/mugabe-a-death-penalty-advocate-not-an-abolitionist/
Not a white genocide: White farmers were killed during Zimbabwe’s land invasions but it was no genocide. Claims that during Zimbabwe’s FTLRP and land invasions ‘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’ and that Zimbabwe ‘slaughtered a lot of the white farmers’ are false and misleading. White farmers were, indeed, killed. The highest number of deaths is 29, given by the Commercial Farmers Union, occurring between 2000 and 2016. This figure includes white farmers murdered in crimes unrelated to land occupation. There were no children killed. At least thirty four black people had been killed in one year of the invasions - in the year 2000. Some uncorroborated reports put the total of the unnamed black farm managers and workers killed by 2017 at 78. https://factcheckzw.org/zimbabwes-land-reform-a-complex-history-yes-but-no-genocide/
The claim that ‘Here is video footage of ED apparently snubbing not just Chiwenga's attempted handshake, but also follow-up attempted conversations’ is false. The video showing President Mnangagwa ‘snubbing’ VP Chiwenga does not show the full context. It has been edited to cut out earlier footage where the two can be clearly seen shaking hands. The 26 second clip is cut out from a more than 4 hour live event of a national heroes acre burial. Not sure if a video has been edited? Check out the following content clues: Out-of-Order Events: Does the sequence of events make sense? If things seem out of order or illogical, it could indicate that parts of the video have been rearranged. Missing Information: Does the video seem to be missing key details? If you're left with unanswered questions or the narrative feels incomplete, it's possible that context has been removed. Emotional Manipulation: Be wary of videos that seem designed to elicit a strong emotional reaction without providing sufficient context. They may be cherry-picking moments to create a false impression. Check for Original Source: If possible, try to find the original, unedited version of the video. This can help you determine what, if anything, has been changed. Consider the Source: Who posted the video? What is their agenda? Are they a reliable source of information? Being aware of the source's potential biases can help you evaluate the video's credibility. https://factcheckzw.org/no-snub-at-the-heroes-acre-president-and-vp-handshake-edited-out/
What’s in a number? There is no conclusive evidence on President Mnangagwa’s year of birth. Is it 1938, 1942 or 1946? Officially, 1942 seems to be the favoured one. But it makes a lie of the President’s surviving the death penalty in 1965 due to being under age. For that to have happened, he would have been born in 1946. Most of the claims of him being born in 1938 stem from Jonathan Moyo’s social media post. All other records show that the President was born on 15 September either in 1942 or 1946, with the former being the official one. On the other hand, FactCheckZW did not come across evidence of the President himself publicly commenting on the discrepancies surrounding his date of birth and age. According to official records, therefore, President Mnangagwa who is turning 83 years old this year, will be 86 in 2028 and not 90 as claimed by Hopewell Chin’ono. https://factcheckzw.org/whats-in-a-number-no-evidence-president-mnangagwa-will-be-90-in-2028/
The claim that ‘sugar does not cause diabetes’ is misleading because it does not contain full context. While sugar does not cause type 1 diabetes, it does, indirectly, cause type 2 diabetes. Sugar does not only refer to the granulated sucrose but all carbohydrates that the body breaks down into simple sugars. The missing context could be the difference between life and death for someone living with type 2 diabetes. Claims implying that sugar has no connection to diabetes are misleading and can be harmful. While not the direct cause, excessive sugar consumption plays a significant role in the development of type 2 diabetes. https://factcheckzw.org/sickeningly-sweet-sugar-doesnt-directly-cause-diabetes-but/
Déjà Vu: Dew water poisoning claim is back (and still false). The WhatsApp message being circulated that Dew water distributed in South Africa is contaminated with the Ebola virus is an old hoax and has been debunked numerous times before. https://factcheckzw.org/dew-water-no-ebola-no-deaths-just-a-hoax-that-refuses-to-die/
The claim that ’South Africa currently buys water from Zimbabwe that comes from Limpopo river meaning the river belongs to Zimbabwe‘ is false. The Limpopo river is not owned by any one country but is run by a commission comprising four countries - Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique and South Africa. It is equally false that South Africa is buying Limpopo water from Zimbabwe. The agreement between the two countries is for South Africa to buy treated water from Zimbabwe since Beitbridge Treatment Water Works has capacity to provide water for the two towns of Beitbridge and Musina. The two implementing agents to oversee the construction projects are South African Development Bank, and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority, and the completion of the projects is expected to be in 2026. https://factcheckzw.org/limpopo-river-a-shared-resource-south-africa-doesnt-buy-limpopo-water-from-zimbabwe/