The Zimbabwean parliament on Thursday, approved a controversial legislation aimed at punishing government critics, as well as promoting patriotism and loyalty to the President.
The law which the country’s opposition and human rights activists describe as “draconian”, is also seen as an attempt to stifle dissent ahead of upcoming national elections scheduled for August 23.
The bill which was passed by the House criminalizes, among others, acts “capable of damaging the sovereignty and national interest” of the country, and stipulates a prison sentence of up to 20 years for offenders.
However, proponents of the bill and members of the ruling ZANU-PF Party have said it would encourage and promote patriotism in Zimbabweans.
A lawmaker, Joseph Chinotimba, had this to say:
“This Bill is not meant to curtail the existence of political parties but it is there to encourage the people of Zimbabwe to love their country and stop denouncing it.”
But members of the opposition are of the belief that the ban on any criticism of the government is coming at a time when rights groups and opposition parties are already complaining of a clampdown.
A human rights activist and journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono, who condemned the bill in a tweet, said it was the death of free speech in the southern African country.
“Free speech is now dead. This is a very sad day for Zimbabwe,” Chin’ono wrote.
An opposition lawmaker, Temba Mliswa, who opposed the bill in the parliament before getting kicked out, said:
“Let history be known that I was not part of this commotion and circus.”
The bill which will go to the Senate for further debate, will have to be approved by President Emmerson Mnangagwa before it becomes law.