Harare, Zimbabwe — If you thought being a WhatsApp group admin only involved “removing” people for being off-topic, think again. Tasunungurwa Freedom Manuhwa, the admin of the Murehwa Times community group, is finding out the hard way that the Cyber and Data Protection Act is very real.
Manuhwa, who represented himself in court (self-actor), pleaded guilty to cyber-bullying and harassment charges before Magistrate Tapiwa Kuhudzayi. He has been remanded in custody, proving that “forwarded as received” is not a valid legal defense.
The Drama: Spiritual Healers and Secret Verdicts
The complainant, Taurai Siyawamwaya, a businessman with interests in Harare and Murehwa, claims Manuhwa used his platform to launch a digital “witch-hunt.”
Between June and December 2025, Manuhwa allegedly used an Econet line to tell the group’s followers that Siyawamwaya was the reason his son, Nathan (who lives with a mental disability), was unwell. The posts went as far as claiming that a traditional healer named Kanemgo had fingered the father as the culprit.
The “Malicious” Allegations Included:
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Claiming Siyawamwaya’s son was being tormented by his own father.
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Alleging that Siyawamwaya was “hiding” at the Chibhanguza Hotel during a cleansing ceremony because he was afraid of the “traditional court’s” verdict.
Digital Footprints Don’t Lie
Manuhwa, who is reportedly linked to an unregistered social media “news” channel, was caught after Siyawamwaya realized his dignity was being shredded online for the sake of “likes” and community gossip.
By the time the police pounced on January 20, 2026, the digital trail was already cold-hard evidence. The CID Cyber Laboratory has already processed a report proving the messages came from Manuhwa’s registered SIM card.
This case is a massive “Check Yourself” moment for:
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WhatsApp Admins: You are responsible for the “news” you broadcast or allow.
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Citizen Journalists: Being “unregistered” doesn’t mean you are above the law.
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Keyboard Warriors: The Cyber Lab can track that Econet line faster than you can type “LOL.”
Manuhwa is expected back in the dock today to finalize his pleadings. Stay tuned as we see if the court decides to “delete” his freedom for good.
