The Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Amendment Bill, 2022, also known as the Patriotic Bill has been approved by Zimbabwean leader Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The law prescribes punishments for Zimbabweans who "wilfully injured the sovereignty and national interest of Zimbabwe". Penalties vary from fines to imprisonment and termination of citizenship.
According to the law, citizens who meet with foreign diplomats or officials of a foreign state in terms of association, assembly and speech and undermine the country's reputation, using false statements, are subject to criminal prosecution.
Monica Mutsvangwa, the country’s minister of information, publicity and broadcasting services, spoke to City Press in Randburg on Friday, explaining that the bill "promotes patriotism" and is mistakenly regarded as "controversial".
"People who talk about it [the bill] as being controversial; I'd like to understand what it is they are saying. Is it good to cooperate with people planning subversion of the constitutionally elected government? Is it good to cooperate with people who are planning a coup? Is that correct? No," Mutsvangwa said.
Earlier, the law was the subject of much criticism from a number of civil society oorganizations.