By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Zimbabwean parliamentarians on Wednesday passed a bill barring citizens from criticising the government as the country prepares for presidential and parliamentary elections in August.
According to reports, those who violate the new law known as the “Patriotic Bill”, are liable to up to 20 years in jail.
The Criminal Law Code Amendment Bill, contains a clause that criminalises “wilfully damaging the sovereignty and national interest of Zimbabwe”, Reuters quoted in a report.
The ruling ZANU-PF party has been accused of promulgating the law to clampdown on civil society organisations, opposition leaders, journalists and those who have unfavourable opinion of the government.
There are fears that the government will use the law as a tool to crackdown on those with dissenting voices as the country’s general elections, in which President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be seeking a second term, hold Aug. 23.
Opposition lawyer and pastor Nelson Chamisa, 45, who leads the newly formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) will be his main contender.
CCC spokesperson and lawyer, Fadzayi Mahere, described the law as “dangerous” and said it aimed at closing the democratic space ahead of elections.
“ZANU-PF has reduced our great nation into an outpost of tyranny,” Mahere told Reuters.
