Source: Flag abusers face prosecution – Sunday News Sep 18, 2016
Munyaradzi Musiiwa, Midlands Correspondent
THE Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs will soon descend on individuals abusing the national flag in the manner that “brings it into disrepute” as this will attract a fine of $300 or alternatively a custodial sentence or both.
Addressing political parties and the public during a constitutional advocacy meeting in Gweru last week, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Permanent Secretary Mrs Virginia Mabhiza said according to the Flag of Zimbabwe Act, failure to respect the national flag can land one in prison or a fine of $300 or both.
Responding to questions raised by people that the national flag was being wantonly abused by some political movements, Mrs Mabhiza said the ministry was the custodian of the Flag of Zimbabwe Act.
“I wanted to talk about this with Acting President (Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa) that one of the laws that we administer as the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs is the Flag of Zimbabwe Act. Our flag is very important and we therefore encourage the public to respect it. Failure to respect the national flag can land one in prison or be forced to pay a fine of $300 or both. There are certain things that people do that are tantamount to abuse and disrespect of the national flag,” she said.
Mrs Mabhiza said her ministry would take it upon itself to see to it that anyone found abusing the flag or disrespecting it would face the full wrath of the law.
“If you are seen disrespecting or abusing the flag, as the custodian of the Flag of Zimbabwe Act as enshrined in the constitution, we will ensure that the law takes its course. Section 6 of the Flag of Zimbabwe Act states that any person who burns, mutilates or otherwise insults the flag or a flag which resembles or is intended to resemble the flag or any reproduction thereof, in circumstances which are calculated or likely to show disrespect for the flag or to bring the flag into disrepute, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level six or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment,” she said.
Mrs Mabhiza said efforts were being made to translate the constitution into sign language.
She, however, said private organisations representing this section of the disabled people had come up with a draft of the constitution in sign language that they submitted to the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for approval.
“There are partners and organisations that represent the deaf and dumb. They have said they now have a draft of their visual interpretation of the constitution and they are bringing it to us so that we take it to the Government. If it is approved we will soon have the constitution in sign language,” said Mrs Mabhiza.
COMMENTS
The level of childish immaturity becomes more apparent by the day, and the most alarming thing is that not one of them is actually able to see it and say ‘Let’s cool it’, and adopt a more subtle strategy.
The flag is the property of all loyal citizens of the country. Showing respect for the flag and what it is meant to denote is not abusing it – the exact reverse. The pastor who wore the flag has rightly pointed out that Mugabe and Zanu have in fact absued the flag and need to be prosecuted themselves. You cannot send the Fifth Brigade into Matabeleland under the Zimbabwe Flag and murder 20 000 civilians under the guise of liberty for the people. The flag is not a Mugabe tool. Even if the Queen of Great Britain, Soames, Carrington, Kissinger, Fraser, Thtacher and others who served in the GNU think that Mugabe is a darling with his flag – they have all failed to fully appreciate the true meaning of the word liberty. Liberty and sovereignty is not vested in one genocidal dictator who has thr right to kill his people -even if it is happening in the The Phillipines, or Russia, or Syria. If Mugabe and his mujibas like Scoones think that this is the meaning of the Zimbabwean flag – they need it rammed up their ****es. We need to remember that the manner in which Mugabe is using the flag is actually about “Patriotism being the last refuge if a scoundrel.” Zimbabwe is blessed with many of these in Zanu.
When you see a despot and his minions banning their own flag, because it has become a symbol of resistance to their excesses then you know the tide is up.