The Zimbabwe Constitutional Court has struck down Section 31 (a) (iii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act), which criminalised publishing false statements undermining the authority of the uniformed forces. This is a welcome step in our progression towards a more democratic state. This particular law has been used against journalists in particular for many years in an attempt to cow them into submission. As a result it has had a chilling effect on many who have wanted to expose corruption and abuse of power in the Police and other armed forces. Although the new Zimbabwean Constitution remains flawed in some respects this judgment is yet a further example that the new Constitution is a marked improvement on the old, and that the Nation did the right thing by approving it in last years referendum. There is no doubt that it can be improved, for example by the removal of some of the egregious racist sections still in it, but that will come with time. For now we must celebrate these steps forward and congratulate the Constitutional Court for interpreting it and applying it properly. herald.co.zw/fib-law-struck-off-statutes/
Posted on: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 06:22:45 +0000
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