APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) The United Nations High Commission for Human Rights on Monday became the latest organisation to condemn the signing into law by Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa of a bill that prohibits citizens from criticizing the government.
Mnangagwa last Friday assented to the controversial Criminal Law Codification and Reform Amendment Bill about a month before the southern African nation holds elections.
Commonly known as the Patriotic Act, the law contains a clause which imposes penalties on citizens for meeting foreigners to discuss negative things against Zimbabwe.
It imposes harsh penalties, including the death penalty, for anyone found guilty of “wilfully damaging the sovereignty and national interest of Zimbabwe” by calling for military intervention or sanctions against the country.
The UN body feared that the law could be used by the governing ZANU PF as a tool to target and weaken civil society.
“We regret that Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act has now been signed into law. Risks being misused to target, criminalize and weaken civil society,” the body said.
It noted that “open and pluralistic civic space” is key for sustainable development and called on the Harare authorities reconsider the new law.
Similar criticism of the new law has come from the European Union, rights group Amnesty International and some Western governments.
Zimbabweans go to the polls on August 23 to elect a president, members of parliament and local government councillors.
The run-up to the elections has been marred by opposition allegations of an uneven playing field and voter intimidation.
JN/APA