HARARE – Zimbabweans participating in community WhatsApp groups are being cautioned that such platforms are increasingly contributing to the spread of misinformation, heightening anxiety, and, in some cases, causing social harm.
Neighbourhood WhatsApp groups have become a common feature across urban and suburban Zimbabwe, often established to enhance communication, share local updates, and improve community safety.
However, security experts warn that many of these groups may inadvertently undermine the very objectives they were created to serve.
Community Monitoring Service (CMS), a private security firm operating in Zimbabwe, has raised concerns about the growing misuse of informal digital safety networks.
The warning follows broader research into community-based crime reporting, which suggests that informal groups frequently blur the distinction between verified threats and unsubstantiated assumptions.
Instead of evidence-driven discussion, suspicion often dominates conversations, enabling rumours to circulate more rapidly than confirmed information.
Tichaona Chipezvero, social media specialist at CMS, said the challenges stem largely from how residents use the platform.
“WhatsApp groups were never designed to function as crime-intelligence systems,” Chipezvero said.
“Community WhatsApp groups are powerful communication tools, but power without structure quickly becomes a risk.”
According to Chipezvero, a recurring issue is the tendency for ordinary situations to escalate into perceived security threats.
“When individuals post assumptions rather than verified information, the group ceases to enhance safety and instead begins amplifying fear,” he said.
CMS, which manages its own moderated WhatsApp communication channels, said it frequently observes how routine behaviour is mischaracterised in neighbourhood groups.
People walking, waiting, or simply unfamiliar to residents are often labelled as suspicious without any supporting evidence of criminal intent.
“Often, what we see is a moment of discomfort being broadcast as a threat,” Chipezvero explained.
“Once that message is repeated, forwarded, or reinforced by others, it acquires an authority it does not deserve.”
He warned that everyday activities risk being inadvertently criminalised within what he described as “the kangaroo court of mobile sharing.”
“These dynamics are particularly dangerous because they can shape perceptions without facts,” he said.
Experts note that the design of instant messaging platforms contributes to the problem. While enabling rapid communication, such systems provide limited mechanisms for verification and often lack contextual safeguards.
As a result, exaggerated or inaccurate crime claims can trigger unnecessary panic, misdirect private security patrols, and place additional pressure on already stretched law-enforcement resources.
“When communities react emotionally instead of acting on verified information, attention is diverted from genuine crime patterns and effective prevention strategies,” Chipezvero said.
Another concern relates to the potential reinforcement of bias.
Some neighbourhood discussions rely on vague descriptions or coded language when identifying individuals, rather than focusing on observable behaviour.
“In a society as socially and economically diverse as Zimbabwe, that is deeply concerning,” Chipezvero said.
“When identity replaces behaviour as the basis for suspicion, the conversation shifts away from crime prevention and toward social division.”
Security professionals also warn that poor moderation exacerbates the risks.
Many neighbourhood groups operate without active administrators responsible for verifying posts, enforcing guidelines, or intervening when discussions become speculative or inflammatory.
“Without clear rules and active moderation, WhatsApp groups tend to drift from their original purpose,” Chipezvero noted.
“Credible safety information becomes diluted, while gossip and anxiety dominate the discourse.”
He added that participation in such groups may also create a false sense of security.
“Being informed is not the same as being safe,” Chipezvero said.
“WhatsApp groups should support community safety, not replace structured reporting channels or coordinated neighbourhood safety initiatives.”
Despite the concerns, CMS emphasised that community WhatsApp groups can remain effective tools when used responsibly.
“With clear objectives, verified information, and proper moderation, these platforms can contribute positively to local communication and awareness,” Chipezvero said.
“But without discipline and structure, they risk becoming sources of confusion rather than safety.”x`x`
