Tajikistan to vote on presidential life term in referendum. On Wednesday, Tajikistan's parliament unanimously agreed to put a package of constitutional amendments to a national referendum on May 22. The amendments, which were declared legal by the Constitutional Court last week, would allow President Emomali Rahmon to remain president for life, ban the main opposition party, and prohibit party platforms based on religion.

Zimbabwe high court nullifies criminal defamation law. Last week, Zimbabwe's Constitutional Court unanimously declared the country's criminal defamation law unconstitutional, overturning a law that had previously been used to arrest hundreds of journalists. Proponents of the ruling continue to protest other domestic laws which criminalize expression despite constitutional guarantees to freedom of expression and freedom of the media.