HARARE, Jul. 21 (NewsDay Live) – A police cyber expert has linked socialite Patricia Jeke to WhatsApp and Facebook posts allegedly used to harass and cyberbully a complainant in a case before the courts.
Jeke is facing charges under the Cyber and Data Protection Act after allegedly posting insulting and false statements targeting Shingirirai Ziwange on social media.
The State alleges that on February 9 this year, Jeke sent a WhatsApp message to Ziwange accusing her of publishing a post about her on Facebook.
According to court papers, after Ziwange denied making the post, Jeke allegedly responded: “Haasi kundiziva (you do not know me) and you are underestimating me.”
The State alleges that Jeke later published posts accusing Ziwange of engaging in an extramarital affair and practising witchcraft, among other insults.
Jeke has denied the allegations and disowned the Facebook account and WhatsApp number linked to the posts.
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However, police cyber forensic expert Carlington Nyazire told magistrate Ayanda Dhlamini that digital analysis had linked the disputed content to accounts associated with Jeke.
Nyazire said his role involved examining computers, mobile phones, digital video recorders, external storage devices and other electronic equipment for forensic evidence.
He told the court that he analysed an iPhone device submitted as an exhibit, containing an Econet SIM card, and extracted WhatsApp messages, videos and screenshots.
Nyazire said the examination revealed Facebook posts and videos allegedly targeting the complainant between May 24 and June 3 this year.
He said WhatsApp communications were extracted and analysed using Magnet Axiom forensic software.
“The exhibit contained the WhatsApp application installed using Econet number +26378…, registered under the username Shingie. Standard communication was identified and analysed between this account and number +263783370137, associated with the username PJ Powers,” Nyazire told the court.
He said the extracted data showed encrypted WhatsApp exchanges and that there was no evidence of hacking or unauthorised access.
According to Nyazire, three images and one video were retrieved during the examination and were confirmed as screenshots from a Facebook account identified as Patricia Jack.
He said all extracted digital artefacts were processed and verified through hashing to preserve evidence integrity.
“The requested artefacts were found. Evidence integrity was maintained through encryption validation and hashing. No signs of manipulation or unauthorised access were detected,” he said.
The State has since closed its case.
Jeke, who is represented by lawyer Tawanda Machinga, advised the court that she would file an application for discharge at the close of the State’s case.
Magistrate Dhlamini postponed the matter to July 28 for a ruling on the application for discharge.