New amendments empower Zimbabwe government to impose exit visas

By Violet Gonda

14 September 2005

More shock and gloom for Zimbabweans. The new amendments to the constitution empower the Mugabe regime to impose exit visas aimed at blocking government critics from leaving the country. The controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill which was signed by Robert Mugabe last week will be gazetted into law this Friday.

MDC MP and legal expert Tendai Biti said the passing of the bill would allow Robert Mugabe to come up with normal statutes that will give effect to the spirit and purpose of the constitutional amendments.

This means the government can pass laws to deny passports to certain Zimbabwean individuals deemed undesirable or simply deny them exit visa when intending to leave the country.

Biti said these restrictions will apply to every Zimbabwean but the application of the law would be done subjectively and to intended groups of people that are considered opponents of the regime. He said naturally the MDC, civic groups and business people that are seen not to be serving ZANU PF's interests.

ZANU PF steamrolled this repressive bill through parliament, last month, despite serious objections from the MDC. The Act has been described as the greatest challenge yet to Zimbabweans’ liberties by human rights and civic groups.

It’s reported that the exit visas are likely come into effect at the beginning of next year.