Zimbabwe parliament passes law banning govt criticism

The bill, passed by the lower house on Wednesday evening, criminalizes acts that damage "the sovereignty and national interest" of the southern African country. In the most extreme cases, violators run the risk of up to 20 years in prison.

"Free speech is now dead," prominent journalist and activist Hopewell Chin'ono wrote on Twitter, adding it was "a very sad day for Zimbabwe."

The law was approved just hours after the government, ending months of uncertainty, announced nationwide elections for August 23. Analysts are bracing for a tense ballot in a country where discontent at entrenched poverty, power cuts and other shortages runs deep.

Joseph Chinotimba, a lawmaker from the ruling ZANU-PF party told parliament the law aimed to encourage Zimbabweans to be "patriotic".

"This bill is not meant to curtail the existence of political parties but it is there to encourage the people of Zimbabwe to love their country and stop denouncing it," Chinotimba said.

But opponents said it bans any criticism of the government at a time where rights groups and opposition parties are already complaining of a clampdown.

"Let history be known that I was not part of this commotion and circus," opposition lawmaker Temba Mliswa told parliament before getting kicked out.

The law will now go to the Senate. It will then need to be approved by President Emmerson Mnangagwa -- something Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum director, Musa Kika, said was all but granted.

"This bill is the most draconian law that we have seen in Zimbabwe," Kika told AFP.