By KITSEPILE NYATHI More by this AuthorZimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has approved a proposed law that seeks to punish ‘unpatriotic” citizens as the 80-year-old ruler moves to silence critics and entrench his rule. Soon after winning the disputed 2018 elections, President Mnangagwa promised a law that will punish Zimbabweans who lobby for sanctions against the country. The government said the proposed law, to be known as the Patriotic Act, would be modelled along United States’ Logan Act. Former Finance minister and now deputy leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change Tendai Biti described the proposed law as “fascist and unconstitutional”. We reject this unconstitutional, desperate, fascist law.”Early this year, President Mnangagwa’s government also approved a proposed law that seeks to restrict civil society organisations from receiving foreign funding.

Source: Daily Nation November 24, 2022 03:26 UTC