Ophias Murambiwa, a ZANU PF MP, has come up with a genius plan to solve Zimbabwe’s problems: make it a crime to criticize the government. Because, clearly, the root of all Zimbabwe’s issues is that people are just not patriotic enough.
Murambiwa’s proposal is simple: if you don’t love Zimbabwe with all your heart and soul, even when the hospitals are out of medication, you should face lengthy jail sentences. Because, you know, nothing says “love your country” like being silenced by the threat of imprisonment. According to Murambiwa, criticizing the government’s failures is a sign of not loving one’s country. But what about when the hospitals are empty and the roads are broken? Just keep quiet and praise the country, even if it’s struggling. After all, who needs functional healthcare and infrastructure when you have patriotism?
With their two-thirds majority in Parliament, ZANU PF is determined to push through legislation that would criminalize criticism of the government’s shortcomings. Because, you know, freedom of speech is overrated.
Meanwhile, another ZANU PF MP, Joseph Mapiki, has proposed a National Ideology that would promote patriotism and reinforce a distinct Zimbabwean identity. Because, apparently, Zimbabweans need a government-mandated ideology to tell them what it means to be Zimbabwean.
It’s clear that ZANU PF is committed to creating a more… let’s say, “patriotic” Zimbabwe. Where criticism is a crime, and love for the country is mandatory. Because, who needs dissenting voices when you have a ruling party with a two-thirds majority?
SOURCE-PINDULA
