Maputo, 31 Jul (AIM) – The Mozambican chapter of the regional press freedom body MISA (Media Institute of Southern Africa) has categorically denied claims that its executive director, Ernesto Nhanale, has died, and that he was being sued by the Bank of Mozambique.
The story of Nhanale’s supposed demise first appeared on a Facebook page entitled “Poli News”, which declared “Let’s bid farewell to Ernesto Nhalale. All of Mozambique is in mourning”.
This headline was posted over a photo of Nhanale, with a link to a supposed website of the Mozambican public television station, TVM. This link led to a story that Nhanale is being sued by the central bank because of statements he had supposedly made on television. The supposed TVM site also included an interview allegedly given by Nhanale to the chairperson of MISA, Jeremias Langa.
All these claims are false, says MISA. Its fact checking unit, Misacheck, has been in regular contact with Nhanale, and can confirm that he is alive and has not been threatened with any lawsuit by the Bank of Mozambique. The entire story is thus a case of disinformation.
The supposed TVM website is fictional. It steals the TVM logo, but the material it carries has nothing to do with TVM. The address of the link is false. MISA says, and the website exists merely “to deceive the public”.
Another link in the text leads to a gambling site named “EthereonEdge”. This site, MISA says “uses the names of public figures to attract users, promising them instant wealth”.
In the fake interview supposedly granted to Jeremias Langa, Nhanale is cited as saying that EthereonEdge is “the right solution for anyone who wants to get rich quickly”.
“Poli News” was set up on 27 June, and has carried precisely one story, that which announced Nhanale’s supposed death.
(AIM)
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