Disloyal Zimbabweans face tough times ahead

THE Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade has called for the expeditious enactment of the Patriotic Bill to stop unpatriotic and disloyal Zimbabweans from disparaging the country under the guise of freedom of speech.

This comes as some activists have been globetrotting, on the payroll of Western countries, on a mission to stir international sentiment against Zimbabwe.

Some of the activists like Mr Hopewell Chinóno have taken to selling bottled smoke to their international audience, including manufacturing nauseous propaganda all in the hope of projecting a false narrative.

Mr Chinóno disgracefully denigrated and misrepresented the situation in the country as he addressed the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy in Switzerland on Wednesday.

For instance, Mr Chinóno told his audience that Zimbabwe has a maternal mortality of 2 500 when the figure is 614, according to the United Nations.

Unashamedly, Mr Chinóno claimed that there are no cancer therapy machines in the country's hospitals and that only one maternity theatre at Harare Hospital was functional when this is not the case.

This is also despite the fact that the country has done tremendously well and beyond expectations in the fight against Covid-19, a global pandemic that has left a trail of deaths and destruction globally especially in Western countries.

In the aftermath of Mr Chinóno's shocking claims, where he also called for the maintenance of illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe, some Zimbabweans have urged Parliament to finalise the Patriotic Bill which penalises citizens whose actions are against the country's national interests.

One Tendai Chipfeko responded through his Twitter handle saying Mr Chinóno should be ashamed for disparaging his country at international forums.

"Name one journalist in the world who goes on an international forum to disparage their country. Kana achida zvepolitics ngaataure. His actions are those of the opposition".

"I have realised that you lack respect for Zimbabwe, why shouting around about Zimbabwe. Have you ever heard someone in America shouting the wrongs in their nation to other nations? Have you ever heard Americans giving speeches that are against their nation? Please respect my nation," said Mr Edmore Gwinhi.

Mr Tom Bwalya, on his Twitter handle, expressed shock over Mr Chinóno's utterances at public forums.

"It's a pity that we always want to solve our problems outside our countries, to whom were you explaining to?"

One Tafara said Zimbabweans should not take Mr Chinóno seriously since he is singing for his bank account.

On their part, the country's lawmakers indicated that they are keen to pass the Patriotic Bill as a way of controlling negative and false narratives that badly project the image of the country.

In a report seen by the Herald, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs said they received a petition from the Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Trust on passing legislation that criminalises calling for the imposition of sanctions on Zimbabwe by individuals or organisations.

"The petitioners noted that sanctions have caused an insidious ripple effect on the Zimbabwean economy and the enjoyment of fundamental human rights, including the right to health, food, safe drinking water and sanitation," reads part of the report by the committee chaired by Webster Shamhu.

"Consequently, they called for Parliament to enact a law that ensures Zimbabweans desist from unpatriotic behaviour that supports imposition of illegal sanctions on their nation to the detriment of its development.

"Thus, the envisaged law will form a strong legal foundation to penalise unpatriotic behaviour as well as acting as a panacea to curb undesirable acts."

The report says Zimbabwean law is devoid of specific provisions that criminalise unauthorised communication by private citizens with foreign Governments that have direct or indirect implications on Zimbabwe's foreign policy.