Harare: On Wednesday, a High Court in Zimbabwe struck down provisions of the country's Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, commonly referred to as the Patriotic Act, as unconstitutional. According to African Press Organization, the Patriotic Act, which President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed into law in July 2023, contains overly broad provisions that make the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association a criminal offense. The act created the crime of willfully injuring the sovereignty and national interest of Zimbabwe, effectively criminalizing Zimbabwean civil society groups and human rights defenders who criticize the government at international forums and prohibiting them from seeking external avenues for accountability for rights violations. While striking down sections of the law as unconstitutional is a positive step, the Zimbabwe government should repeal the draconian Patriotic Act altogether, as it contains overly broad and vaguely defined provisions, such as those crimin alizing participation in meetings with the intention of promoting calls for economic sanctions against the country. Such provisions amount to serious violations of the fundamental human rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association protected under international human rights law.