[ad_1]
In the coming weeks, Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party will present the Patriot Bill to parliament, a law that will criminalize communication with foreign embassies without government authorization.
The bill also penalizes open criticism of the regime.
In an interview with the controlled state Sunday MailZimbabwe’s Permanent Secretary for Justice, Legal Affairs and Parliamentarians Virginia Mabhiza said the law will be based on promoting and protecting national interests.
“Conduct such as private correspondence with foreign governments or any official or agent thereof will be prohibited, including false statements influencing foreign governments, or any other conduct that aims to undermine the country,” he said.
After winning controversial elections in July 2018 amid a failing economy and growing corruption, President Emmerson Mnangagwa was forced to use the army and police to quell resistance from the main opposition MDC Alliance and civil society.
But the latest crackdown on civil society and the opposition that resulted in the kidnappings, torture and arrest of activists and journalists ahead of the riots scheduled for July 31, drew international criticism.
The UK’s ambassador to the World Trade Organization and the UN in Geneva, Julian Braithwaite, on Wednesday in a policy review on Zimbabwe, called on the country to uphold the rule of law and human rights and fight corruption so that the country advance.
“Significant progress in reforms, coupled with respect for human rights and the rule of law, are the only way to sustainably address Zimbabwe’s underlying challenges,” he said.
Zanu-PF says there is no crisis in Zimbabwe, but chaos created by the opposition and its foreign allies. Therefore, in case of conviction under the law, severe penalties will be imposed.
