Is the State on a warpath with citizens?

IT has been weeks since the Health minister and Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga imposed the Statutory Instrument (SI) 225A of 2020 indefinitely suspending by-elections in Zimbabwe. Following the gazetting of the SI, Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi went on to say that Zimbabwe was still under COVID-19 restrictions and as such, the government had judiciously taken note that by-elections would endanger the lives of people given the prevailing environment.

Additionally, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa, told the media on October 26 2020 that Cabinet had approved an amendment that criminalise the unauthorised citizen or group communication or negotiation with foreign governments.

This came at a time as political leaders, journalists and student body leadership have been subjected to arrests, torture and the closing of civic space.

Electoral reforms have been sidelined, while the Executive focused on anti-sanctions, among other challenges. Democracy has been quarantined. That has become the order of the day in Zimbabwe. Government is on a warpath with its citizens, persecuting anyone deemed a threat to the “new dispensation” mantra. The COVID-19 global pandemic has been used to criminalise “guaranteed” human rights such as calling for transparency and accountability from the government and those in authority. Mutsvangwa has made it known that Cabinet had approved the amendment to Criminal Law (Codification and reform) Act criminalising the unauthorised communication or negotiation by private citizens with foreign governments. She stated that Cabinet felt that such communication or negotiation has a direct or indirect implication on the country's foreign relations and policy.

It is the Election Resource Centre's position that the amendment is in bad taste as the government must comply with section 58, 59, 61 and 62 of the Constitution that outlines rights guaranteed in Zimbabwe such as the freedom of assembly and association, freedom to demonstrate and petition, the freedom of expression and the freedom to information.

International relations must not impinge on citizens rights. It is clear the State is on a warpath with citizens, as the amendments outlined just show how far the new dispensation can reach in silencing its citizens and closing up civic spaces.

What is currently happening in Zimbabwe is the opposite of the aspirations as espoused in the our Constitution.

Election Resource Centre