BBC spreads fake news by quoting parody Twitter account in Zimbabwe coverage

[Meatpie]

The BBC and other news organisations have quoted an apparent parody Twitter account in their reporting of the military takeover in Zimbabwe.

BBC Radio 4’s Today programme referred to the @zanu_ pf account, which claimed to represent Robert Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF party, and it was quoted as a source in BBC breaking news alerts and on the broadcaster’s website.

Tweets from @zanu_pf quoted on the flagship news show included: “There was no coup, only a bloodless transition which saw corrupt and crooked persons being arrested and an elderly man who had been taken advantage of by his wife being detained. The few bangs that were heard were from crooks who were resisting arrest, but they are now detained.”

The Today presenter Nick Robinson told listeners the programme did not know who was in control of the Twitter account and urged caution.
BBC World News later apologised for referring to it as the official account of Zanu-PF. In a tweet, BBC World said: “Earlier we mistakenly described @zanu_pf as the official account of Zimbabwe’s ruling party Zanu-PF. We are sorry for any confusion.”

In 2013 the account was described in South African media as a straightforward parody. However, those behind it have not been identified, and neither has their connection to Zanu-PF.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2...rent-parody-twitter-account-zimbabwe-coverage

 

[Whybother]

Maybe both of the twitter accounts are of the same source. BBC were only testing the waters, how far they can mock the eaters. Bet this wasn't really a mis-reporting.