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Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Cde Prisca Mupfumira and ZCC Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi (right) after the unveiling of a plaque at Trabablas Historical Tourism Enshrinement at Masvingo Railway Station recenty

George Maponga in MASVINGO
Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa has lashed at the private media for deliberately concocting lies that Zimbabwe was on the verge of collapse owing to a non-existent debilitating political and economic crisis.

He said instead of promoting peace and unity in the country, it was shocking that the private media was deliberately spreading falsehoods about the situation in the country in a bid to cause alarm and unnecessary panic.

Addressing thousands of Zanu-PF supporters at a rally at Mucheke Stadium in Masvingo on Wednesday, Acting President Mnangagwa vowed that Zimbabwe would never collapse.

The private press has been claiming that the country’s economy was close to total collapse amid a political crisis linked to the expulsion of former Vice President Dr Joice Mujuru and her putschist cabal from the ruling party for plotting to unseat President Mugabe in the run up to last year’s 6th National People’s Congress.

Acting President Mnangagwa said the media is expected to assist in promoting peace and harmony in the country instead of spreading lies that tarnish Zimbabwe’s image.

“All we are asking for is peace, peace, peace and unity,’’ he said.

“The opposition (private) media is busy spreading falsehoods that Zimbabwe is on fire and the country is about to collapse.

“No serious person should listen to them (private media) because they are lying,’’ he said.

He said Zimbabwe would overcome its challenges as long as unity and peace was prevailing in the country.

“Zimbabwe will never collapse. The country will continue to march on and if there is anything that is collapsing, it is the authors of those false, alarmist stories in the opposition (private) press,’’ he added.

He said churches had a key role in forging unity and peace in the country urging them to complement Government efforts to engender socio-economic development in Zimbabwe.

He paid tribute to indigenous churches for pioneering the fight against colonial rule in Zimbabwe pointing out that founders of early indigenous African churches endured persecution by Rhodesian authorities as they tried to stop them from spreading the word of God to Africans.