ZimRights Newsletter Issue 16
May all the Patriots Stand Up
It may have sounded like a joke but the military dispensation is taking this very seriously. From the Patriotic Bill to Amendments to the Criminal Law Code, Zimbabwe is taking steps to punish its citizens who speak about its human rights record to foreign governments and the UN mechanisms, or arrange protests that coincide with major international events. This is according to the Cabinet Briefing of 27 October 2020. Dr. Musa Kika of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum says these proposed laws are nothing but unpatriotic. ZimRights has condemned the proposed laws as an attack on fundamental freedoms. ZimRights National Director Dzikamai Bere says citizens who objectively and constructively criticise their government are good and patriotic citizens. They must be honoured.
Suspension of By Elections
Minister of Health and Child Care on 2 October 2020 through Statutory Instrument (S.I) 225A of 2020 suspended by-elections citing the Covid -19 Pandemic. Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who doubles as the Health Minister said that by elections, which were slated for December 5, 2020, would be suspended in terms of section 68 of the Public Health Act (Chapter 15:17). ZimRights saw this as an attack on democracy after the MDC T, currently under the leadership of Ms. Thokozani Khupe recalled representatives chosen under the MDC Alliance banner. We asked ZimRights members to respond to this development. 87% feel this was a direct attack on the electorate.
