Zimbabwe’s Lower House of Parliament passed the “Patriotic Bill” on May 31,2023 which amended the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act to “criminalize the conduct of isolated citizens or groups who, for self-gain, co-operate or connive with hostile foreign governments to inflict suffering on Zimbabwean citizens and cause damage to national interests.”

In addition to clauses on patriotism, the Amendment Bill contains other provisions setting the minimum mandatory sentence for rape, an expansion of the definition of dangerous drugs and  criminal abuse of office by public officers. The Bill which was passed by the National Assembly was approved by the Senate — that is the Upper House of Parliament — and was signed by the President to become a full law.