Organisations Amendment Bill continues to hang like the sword of Damocles over the heads of civil society and activists in the country. The newly enacted law criminalises statements or participation in meetings that “wilfully injure the sovereignty and national interest” of the country. The Bill passed through all stages of Parliament in 2023 and was transmitted to the president for signing into law. (5) In analysis of the legislation that was signed into law in July 2023, MISA Zimbabwe pointed out that the provisions are vaguely worded and are open to misinterpretation and abuse, given their potential to be widely interpreted. President Mnangagwa declined to sign the bill and returned it to the legislature. However, President Mnangagwa has indicated that the legislature should complete consultations on the bill and bring it back to him as soon as possible. The rule of law requires that criminal laws be clear and precise so that everyone knows when they are breaking the law as opposed to leaving them to conjecture. (4) For this reason, there are fears that when the Bill is reintroduced, it could further shrink civic space. On the other hand, the Private Voluntary Politicians Fadzayi Mahere and Job Sikhala were convicted for transmitting false messages. Mahere was convicted on 5 April 2023. She had been charged under section 31 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act with “publishing or communicating falsehoods” after she posted on X (formerly Twitter) a viral video of a woman tussling with a police officer with a motionless baby in her hands in January 2021. 95 STATE OF PRESS FREEDOM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 2023