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The post France church attack victim who raised alarm was Brazil-born samba enthusiast appeared first on The Zimbabwe Mail.
PARIS/BRASILIA (Reuters) – One of the victims of Thursday’s knife […]
The post France church attack victim who raised alarm was Brazil-born samba enthusiast appeared first on The Zimbabwe Mail.
Source: Zimbabwe to Make Foreign Contacts, Allegations of Torture, Abduction Illegal | Voice of America – English A truck carrying police officers on a street in Harare, Oct, 19, 2020. HARARE, ZIMBABWE – Rights groups in Zimbabwe say the government is targeting critics with a planned amendment to the Criminal Law Act. The new law […]
The post Zimbabwe to Make Foreign Contacts, Allegations of Torture, Abduction Illegal appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.
HARARE, ZIMBABWE – Rights groups in Zimbabwe say the government is targeting critics with a planned amendment to the Criminal Law Act. The new law would, among other things, make it illegal for Zimbabweans to have unauthorized communications with foreign governments or to make unsubstantiated claims of torture or abduction. Analysts say authorities appear to be going after charities and the political opposition.
The proposed law would make it a crime for citizens to have unauthorized contact with foreign governments or to protest during international events or visits.
Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said late Tuesday the change was needed for national security purposes.
“Such communication or negotiation has a direct or indirect implication on Zimbabwe’s foreign relations and policy,” said Mutsvangwa. “The amendments will criminalize the isolated cases of individuals or groups who for self-gain cooperate or connive with hostile foreign governments to inflict suffering on Zimbabwean citizens and to cause damage to national interests.”
Speaking after a cabinet meeting, she said they would also make it illegal for anyone to make unsubstantiated claims of torture or abduction.
Independent political commentator Rejoice Ngwenya says the proposed law against foreign contact is aimed at charities.
He notes President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week vowed to crack down on aid groups that were criticizing his government’s human rights record.
“I[He] seems again, like his predecessor, to be obsessed with controlling non-governmental organizations,” said Ngwenya. “This is typical of authoritarian regimes. Where they fail to provide for services, they look for scapegoats. I suggest that the president focus on delivery – government delivery – rather than molesting and intimidating non-governmental organizations.”
The proposed law against claims of torture or abduction appears to be aimed at silencing Zimbabwe’s opposition.
The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party has accused Mnangagwa’s government of abducting and beating opposition members.
In May, three of the MDC’s female party members, including a lawmaker, alleged they were abducted by state agents, beaten, and sexually assaulted.
The women were re-arrested in June and charged with lying about being abducted.
The information minister said such claims were concocted to tarnish the government’s image.
While the proposed amendments still have to go to parliament for debate and voting, before the president signs it into law, the ruling ZANU-PF party has a majority in both chambers.
So, any amendment the government proposes is almost guaranteed to become law.
The post Zimbabwe to Make Foreign Contacts, Allegations of Torture, Abduction Illegal appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.
Source: Zimbabwe to Make Foreign Contacts, Allegations of Torture, Abduction Illegal | Voice of America – English A truck carrying police officers on a street in Harare, Oct, 19, 2020. HARARE, ZIMBABWE – Rights groups in Zimbabwe say the government is targeting critics with a planned amendment to the Criminal Law Act. The new law […]
The post Zimbabwe to Make Foreign Contacts, Allegations of Torture, Abduction Illegal appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.
HARARE, ZIMBABWE – Rights groups in Zimbabwe say the government is targeting critics with a planned amendment to the Criminal Law Act. The new law would, among other things, make it illegal for Zimbabweans to have unauthorized communications with foreign governments or to make unsubstantiated claims of torture or abduction. Analysts say authorities appear to be going after charities and the political opposition.
The proposed law would make it a crime for citizens to have unauthorized contact with foreign governments or to protest during international events or visits.
Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said late Tuesday the change was needed for national security purposes.
“Such communication or negotiation has a direct or indirect implication on Zimbabwe’s foreign relations and policy,” said Mutsvangwa. “The amendments will criminalize the isolated cases of individuals or groups who for self-gain cooperate or connive with hostile foreign governments to inflict suffering on Zimbabwean citizens and to cause damage to national interests.”
Speaking after a cabinet meeting, she said they would also make it illegal for anyone to make unsubstantiated claims of torture or abduction.
Independent political commentator Rejoice Ngwenya says the proposed law against foreign contact is aimed at charities.
He notes President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week vowed to crack down on aid groups that were criticizing his government’s human rights record.
“I[He] seems again, like his predecessor, to be obsessed with controlling non-governmental organizations,” said Ngwenya. “This is typical of authoritarian regimes. Where they fail to provide for services, they look for scapegoats. I suggest that the president focus on delivery – government delivery – rather than molesting and intimidating non-governmental organizations.”
The proposed law against claims of torture or abduction appears to be aimed at silencing Zimbabwe’s opposition.
The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party has accused Mnangagwa’s government of abducting and beating opposition members.
In May, three of the MDC’s female party members, including a lawmaker, alleged they were abducted by state agents, beaten, and sexually assaulted.
The women were re-arrested in June and charged with lying about being abducted.
The information minister said such claims were concocted to tarnish the government’s image.
While the proposed amendments still have to go to parliament for debate and voting, before the president signs it into law, the ruling ZANU-PF party has a majority in both chambers.
So, any amendment the government proposes is almost guaranteed to become law.
The post Zimbabwe to Make Foreign Contacts, Allegations of Torture, Abduction Illegal appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.
HARARE – The government is expediting public finance management (PFM) […]
The post Govt will complete public finance management (PFM) reforms by 2023 appeared first on The Zimbabwe Mail.
HARARE – The government is expediting public finance management (PFM) […]
The post Govt will complete public finance management (PFM) reforms by 2023 appeared first on The Zimbabwe Mail.
Source: Pakistan, Zim begin World Cup bid | Newsday (News) FORMER World champions Pakistan host Zimbabwe for an International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s World Cup Super League series in Rawalpindi from tomorrow as the teams begin their qualification campaign for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. A record of losing just one […]
The post Pakistan, Zim begin World Cup bid appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.
Source: Pakistan, Zim begin World Cup bid | Newsday (News)
FORMER World champions Pakistan host Zimbabwe for an International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s World Cup Super League series in Rawalpindi from tomorrow as the teams begin their qualification campaign for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India.
A record of losing just one out of 19 one-day internationals (ODIs) over six previous home series against Zimbabwe would give new captain Babar Azam confidence ahead of their opening series of the Super League, introduced to bring context to ODI cricket and to confirm the top seven teams with direct spots for the World Cup along with hosts India.
Featuring 13 teams, the 12 ICC full members and the Netherlands, who qualified by winning the ICC World Cricket League Championship 2015-17, the Super League will see sides play eight three-match series each, four at home and four away. The sides failing to qualify directly will get a second shot through a qualifier.
Each team gets 10 points for a win, five for a tie/no result/abandonment and none for a loss. Teams will be ranked according to total points earned across the eight series.
England, who won the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup as hosts last year, lead the points table with 30 points after featuring in both series played so far. They beat Ireland 2-1 before losing to Australia by the same margin last month.
Babar, who was player of the series in their last ODI series against Sri Lanka played over a year ago, is the top-ranked player from either side in the ICC Men’s ODI player rankings.
He is ranked third among batters and the only one in the series who is in the top 10 of either the batting or bowling rankings.
Left-handed opener Imam-ul-Haq has a good chance of moving back into the top 10, as he is just two points behind England’s Jonny Bairstow and four others too are within 13 rating points.
Fakhar Zaman is four places behind Imam in 15th position, while Haris Sohail (32nd) and Mohammad Hafeez (44th) will be others in the focus from the rankings perspective.
With Mohammad Amir not named in the squad for the series, fellow left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, a star of the Pakistan side that played in the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2018 in New Zealand, is the home side’s leading bowler in 24th position. Spinners Shadab Khan (28th) and Imad Wasim (33rd) follow in the list.
For Chamu Chibhabha-led Zimbabwe, Sikandar Raza leads the batters’ rankings in 47th position, 11 places below his career-best 36th position that he attained five years ago. Brendan Taylor, who has been in the top 10 in the past, is in 50th place while Sean Williams is 57th.
Fast bowler Tendai Chatara, who played in the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2010 in New Zealand, is ranked 43rd among bowlers and would be looking to move back towards his career-best 23rd position in April 2015. Spinners Williams (64th) and Raza (70th) too have attained better rankings in the past.
—ICC.com
The post Pakistan, Zim begin World Cup bid appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.