Chapter 10:15

National Anthem Act

Act 8/1995, 22/2001 (s. 4).

AN ACT to declare and regulate the use of the National Anthem of Zimbabwe and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

[Date of commencement: 5th January, 1996.]

1    Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Anthem of Zimbabwe Act [Chapter 10:15].

2    Interpretation In this Act—

“National Anthem” means the National Anthem of Zimbabwe, comprising the text set out in the First Schedule and the music set out in the Second Schedule.

                       3    Declaration of National Anthem

• The text set out in the First Schedule is hereby declared to be the text of the National Anthem.
• The music set out in the Second Schedule is hereby declared to be the music of the National Anthem.

                       4    Penalties for insulting National Anthem

(1) Any person who—

• insults or ridicules the National Anthem; or
• does any act which is likely to bring the National Anthem into contempt or ridicule; shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level six or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

[Paragraph as amended by section 4 of Act 22 of 2001]

(2) It shall be a defence to a charge under paragraph (b) of subsection (1) for the accused person to prove that he did not know and had no reason to believe that his conduct was likely to bring the National Anthem into contempt or ridicule.

                       5    Regulations

(1) The President may make regulations—

• prescribing the occasions upon which, the persons by whom and the manner in which the National Anthem may be sung;
• prohibiting, controlling or restricting the use of the National Anthem.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may provide penalties for contraventions thereof:

Provided that no such penalty shall exceed a fine of level six or imprisonment for a period of six months or both such fine and such imprisonment.

[Subsection as amended by section 4 of Act 22 of 2001]

FIRST SCHEDULE (Section 3(1))

TEXTOFTHE NATIONALANTHEM OF ZIMBABWE

Shona Version

1. Simudzai mureza wedu weZimbabwe

Yakazvarwa nomoto wechimurenga;

Neropa zhinji ramagamba

Tiidzivirire kumhandu dzose;

Ngaikomborerwe nyika yeZimbabwe.

2. Tarisai Zimbabwe nyika yakashongedzwa

Namakomo, nehova, zvinoyevedza

Mvura ngainaye, minda ipe mbesa

Vashandi vatuswe, ruzhinji rugutswe; Ngaikomborerwe nyika yeZimbabwe.

3. Mwari ropafadzai nyika yeZimbabwe

Nyika yamadzitateguru edu tose,

Kubva Zambezi kusvika Limpopo, Navatungamiri vave nenduramo.

Ngaikomborerwe nyika yeZimbabwe.

English Version

1. O lift high, high, our flag of Zimbabwe Born of the fire of the revolution

And of the precious blood of our heroes.

Let’s defend it against all foes;

Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe.

2. Behold Zimbabwe so richly adorned With mountains and rivers, beautiful. Let rain abound and fields yield the seed May all be fed and workers rewarded. Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe.
3. O God, bless the land of Zimbabwe,

The land of our heritage,

From the Zambezi to the Limpopo. May our leaders be just and exemplary, Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe.

Ndebele Version

1. Phakamisan’ if’legi yethu yeZimbabwe

Eyazalwa yimpi yenkululeko;

Legaz’ elinengi lamaqhawe ethu

Silivikele ezithen’ izonke;

Kalibusiswe ilizwe leZimbabwe.

2. Khangelan’ iZimbahwe yon’ ihlotshisiwe

Ngezintaba lang’ miful’ ebukekayo,

Izulu kaline, izilimo zande; Iz’sebenzi zenam’, abantu basuthe; Kalibusiswe ilizwe leZimbabwe.

3. Nkosi busis’ ilizwe lethu leZimbabwe

Ilizwe labokhokho bethu thina sonke;

Kusuk’ eZambezi kusiy’ eLimpopo Abakhokheli babe lobuqotho;

Kalibusiswe ilizwe leZimbabwe.

SECOND SCHEDULE (Section 3(2))

MUSIC OF THENATIONALANTHEM OF ZIMBABWE