Zimbabwe’s parliament has outlawed criticism of the government before presidential and parliamentary elections in August, with violations of a new law punishable by up to 20 years in jail.
The criminal law code amendment bill, widely known as the “patriotic bill”, contains a clause that criminalises “wilfully damaging the sovereignty and national interest of Zimbabwe”.
Opposition activists say the law, which was passed late on Wednesday, is designed to punish citizens, civil society organisations and political adversaries of the ruling Zanu-PF party.
It has raised fears that the government could launch a crackdown on dissent before the general election on 23 August, when the country’s president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, will be seeking a second term.
The 80-year-old’s main rival is Nelson Chamisa, 45, a lawyer and pastor who leads the newly formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
The CCC’s national spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere, also a lawyer, said the law was dangerous and intended to close the democratic space in the run-up to the elections.
“Zanu-PF has reduced our great nation into an outpost of tyranny,” she said.
“None of it will work because Zimbabweans go to the polls with one mission – to win Zimbabwe for change. No amount of panicky despotism by Zanu will stand in the way of change whose time has come.”
A Zanu-PF spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.