Zimbabwe’s former Deputy Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Obert Gutu, has said South Africans, unlike Zimbabweans, would never demonise their country even in the face of unprecedented challenges.

The law expert said Zimbabweans need the Patriotic Act which will govern their conduct. He said:

There are unprecedented power cuts in South Africa. But we don’t hear South Africans demonising their country. In Zimbabwe, the usual suspects climb on rooftops & tell the whole world that their country is a failed state. Patriot Act is long overdue in Zimbabwe.

His remarks come as the ZANU PF government is trying to come up with the Patriotic Bill that has been viewed as an attempt to weaken opposition political parties and make some politicians ineligible to contest elections.

The Patriotic Bill which was proposed in August 2020 prohibits citizens from conniving with “hostile” foreign governments to harm the country by campaigning for the imposition of sanctions or related actions or speeches.

Critics say the bill will be used as justification to violate human rights as it gives authorities permission to snoop into private communications between citizens and officials of foreign governments.

Early this year, the issue of the Bill was brought up for discussion in the UK Parliament and legislators raised displeasure.

Pindula News