Reason Zimbabwe has a 'Minister of WhatsApp'

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe created a new ministry two weeks ago to deal with cyber security. The ministry's full title is Cyber Security, Threat Detection and Mitigation.

A fake letter with the signature and letterhead of the newly appointed cyber minister - Patrick Chinamasa - instructed all WhatsApp group members to register with the ministry by November.


The letter was signed "By The Cyber Powers Vested In Me".

President Mugabe's spokesperson, George Charamba, says Mr Mugabe came up with the idea of a new ministry to deal with an "emerging threat to the state... a threat founded on abuse and unlawful conduct".