Research Findings
Zimbabwe Peace Project
Gendered disinformation
As has already been stated in the section on definitions, gendered disinformation entails
the deliberate dissemination of false information deliberately created to harm a person,
social group, organisation or country on account of their gender. According to the Best
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Practice Forum on Gender and Digital Rights, the term refers to the weaponisation of
gendered narratives to promote political, social or economic objectives. It refers to
activities such as creating, sharing and dissemination of content which attacks people on
the basis of their gender. These misogynistic attacks, which also amounts to character
assassination, are carefully calculated to erode the trust of the voters in the women
candidates. They also reduce the candidate’s self-esteem and erode their respect and
dignity. Their moral status is degraded.
A key informant pointed out that VAWP has resulted in women shying away from social
media platforms. Shying away from social media platforms by women in politics protects
them from these ceaseless barrages of online attacks but at the same time, curtails their
opportunities to engage with supporters on social media platforms. Elbowing women out
of social media platforms from which support is canvassed creates an unfair advantage for
men over women. Some female politicians have resorted to the use of 'ghost' accounts to
pre-bunk and debunk myths and falsehoods about themselves. They use the ghost
accounts to set the records straight, to provide explanations and evidence of the correct
narrative. In some instances, women politicians explained that this involves defending
female candidates by educating social media users on why women should partake in
politics. This is something they could not do by using their genuine accounts because
abusers are encouraged to keep on attacking when the person attacked seems to be
responding.
Screen shots from X below shows that women in politics are called all sorts of names,
including being labelled prostitutes, people who sleep their way up the political ladder,
and epitomes of moral iniquity.
Malicious and unjustified harming of a women politicians’ otherwise good reputations
present a strong disincentive to young women who want to venture into politics. A few
days before the August 2023 harmonised elections, a pornographic video was circulated
on Whatsapp Groups in Nkulumane, Bulawayo.
It was alleged that the pornographic video
belonged to Sandra Ndebele, a musician and
dancer who was contesting to become a
Councillor
in
Nkulumane
in
a
bid
to
dissuade voters from voting for her. Pictures
were also circulated on social media which
alleged that Sandra Ndebele had attended
and performed at a rival political party’s
rally. This was done to create doubts about
Sandra Ndebele’s loyalty to her own party,
and hence to cause her to lose voters’
confidence.
9. IGF 2021 Best Practice Forum Gender and Digital Rights Exploring the concept of Gendered Disinformation BPF OUTPUT DOCUMENT DECEMBER 2021
https://www.intgovforum.org/en/filedepot_download/62/20661
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