Rights activists and opposition groups in Zimbabwe have kicked against the Patriotic Bill which was signed into law last Friday by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The activists and opposition figures say signing the bill into law is a grave attack on fundamental freedoms and rights, citing sections of the new law with penalties which include the death penalty for anyone found guilty of “willfully damaging the sovereignty and national interest of Zimbabwe.”
In a statement on Tuesday, Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) called on Mnangagwa to repeal the bill which they say will lead to abuse of any dissenting voices.
“We condemn their signing into law of the unconstitutional ‘Patriotic Bill,’ which will criminalize free speech and freedom of association which are protected under our constitution,” said Fadzayi Mahere, spokesman for the CCC.
“The introduction of this repressive legislation confirms beyond any doubt that Mr. Mnangagwa is worse than Robert Mugabe and Zimbabwe as become a full-blown dictatorship in an outpost of tyranny,” Mahere said.
The CCC spokesman also called on Zimbabweans to “vote decisively for change” in the August 23 general election.
Spokesman for civil rights group, Crisis Coalition of Zimbabwe, Obert Masaraure said his group viewed the new law as an avenue to oppress the opposition and ordinary citizens.
“Some of the penalties proposed by the law for deliberately injuring the sovereignty and national interests of Zimbabwe, such as the death penalty, long imprisonment, loss of citizenship and binding of persons from electoral participation for five years, are too harsh and inappropriate for vaguely defined offenses,” he said.
“The provision of the death penalty means that the new law violates the constitution which only allows for the death penalty in cases of murder and aggravating circumstances.
“We firmly oppose the death penalty without exception. We are completely against the death penalty and we condemn it and unreservedly.”