Parly adopts motion to enact Patriotic Bill again

The National Assembly on Tuesday adopted a motion by Honourable Pupurai Togarepi calling for the enactment of the Patriotic Act.

Besides the Patriotic Act, the motion is also seeking to bar certain individuals who are accused of inviting sanctions on the country from contesting in elections.

Zimbabwe is set to hold general elections in 2023, in what commentators described as a do-or-die election for the opposition in the country.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Honourable Togarepi urged the justice minister to help bring the Bill to Parliament.

‘’It is unfortunate that the virtual platform is gone, but I would like to thank Honourable Members who debated on this motion. I want to thank them that they have debated very much aware of the needs of the people of Zimbabwe to be loyal and patriotic.

‘’Mr. Speaker Sir, maybe I should say that the Government, through the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, must help us to come up with this law – a law that will ensure that the people of Zimbabwe protect the interests of their country more than personal self-centred interests.

‘’After having said that Mr. Speaker, I move for the adoption of this motion,’’ he said.

This is the second time that Zanu PF legislators and Parliament have moved the motion and adopted it respectively.

Even though it is on record that the cabinet approved the principles of the Patriotic Bill, the government has in the past months denied that there are such intentions.

It is thought that passing the bill could have serious consequences on the re-engagement process.

The issue of the Bill was brought up for discussion in the UK Parliament earlier this year, with various legislators raising displeasure. It remains to be seen if the government will still go ahead with the enactment of the Bill.