News / Africa
Mugabe congratulates Zimbabweans from Rome
19 Mar 2013 at 19:38hrs | Views
President Robert Mugabe, First Lady Grace Mugabe meets Pope Francis I
President Robert Mugabe has commended the people of Zimbabwe for voting YES in last Saturday's referendum.
Speaking from Rome Italy, where he witnessed the inauguration Mass for Pope Francis this Tuesday, President Mugabe said Zimbabweans have done well in supporting the draft constitution which can now proceed to Parliament before he appends his signature.
Mugabe said after the constitution has been passed by Parliament the principals to the Global Political Agreement will proceed and proclaim the election date.
He congratulated all Zimbabweans for voting peacefully in the referendum, saying the culture of non violence should be upheld even in the run up to the harmonised elections expected this year.
He said the overwhelming YES vote will allow him to proclaim other electoral processes and neither he nor anyone in Zimbabwe has the power to extend the life span of Parliament which expires on the 19th of June this year
The President also said he is aware of the High Court order to announce the election date by the 30th of this month, but said a government lawyer will seek an order to extend the period to allow for the conclusion of the constitution making process.
He added that it is unfortunate that some people including National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) leader, Professor Lovemore Madhuku, Mavambo President Simba Makoni, and MDC 99 President Job Sikhala were campaigning for a NO vote.
More than 3 million Zimbabweans voted YES in the referendum.
Meanwhile, members of the community of the Saint Egidio paid a courtesy call on President Mugabe in Rome.
Speaking to ZBC News after the closed door meeting, a Saint Egidio official, Dr Mauro Garofalo praised Mugabe for playing a leading role in the maintenance of peace on the African continent.
President Mugabe, who is a devout Catholic and the First Lady Grace Mugabe are in Italy where they attended the inaugural Mass of Pope Francis.
Speaking from Rome Italy, where he witnessed the inauguration Mass for Pope Francis this Tuesday, President Mugabe said Zimbabweans have done well in supporting the draft constitution which can now proceed to Parliament before he appends his signature.
Mugabe said after the constitution has been passed by Parliament the principals to the Global Political Agreement will proceed and proclaim the election date.
He congratulated all Zimbabweans for voting peacefully in the referendum, saying the culture of non violence should be upheld even in the run up to the harmonised elections expected this year.
He said the overwhelming YES vote will allow him to proclaim other electoral processes and neither he nor anyone in Zimbabwe has the power to extend the life span of Parliament which expires on the 19th of June this year
He added that it is unfortunate that some people including National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) leader, Professor Lovemore Madhuku, Mavambo President Simba Makoni, and MDC 99 President Job Sikhala were campaigning for a NO vote.
More than 3 million Zimbabweans voted YES in the referendum.
Meanwhile, members of the community of the Saint Egidio paid a courtesy call on President Mugabe in Rome.
Speaking to ZBC News after the closed door meeting, a Saint Egidio official, Dr Mauro Garofalo praised Mugabe for playing a leading role in the maintenance of peace on the African continent.
President Mugabe, who is a devout Catholic and the First Lady Grace Mugabe are in Italy where they attended the inaugural Mass of Pope Francis.
Source - zbc
