Zanu-PF to block new constitution over age limit clause

ZANU PF has threatened to block the new constitution over a clause that could likely bar President Robert Mugabe from running for another term in office.

According to the first draft of a new constitution released last week: "a person is disqualified for election as President if he or she has already held office for one or more periods, whether continuous or not, amounting to 10 years".

If adopted, the clause would block Mugabe, who turns 88 this year and has ruled the country since independence in 1980, from running again.

The veteran leader was nominated by Zanu PF as its candidate for elections the party is demanding must be held this year despite concerns over his advanced age and reported failing health.

Zanu PF members have already blasted the proposal as a personalised attack on Mugabe.

"The draft is personalised to attack President Mugabe. Here is a constitution being drafted...to disqualify the leader of one of the parties," the Zanu PF-leaning Herald newspaper quoted an unnamed source as saying.

The party's representative on the parliamentary committee leading the writing of the new constitution added that Mugabe would never sign off the new charter if it blocked him from contesting the new elections.

"President Mugabe has already said he is contesting the next elections," Paul Mangwana told the Standard newspaper.

"As long as I am in Copac, there is no way we are going to allow a draft which is detrimental to my party (Zanu PF) and its leader."

"We are going to discuss issues to do with executive powers next week. What is contained in the draft document are proposals by drafters but Copac is yet to take a position."

Zimbabwe is writing a new constitution as part of a raft of reforms expected to lead to the new elections.

Zanu PF accuses its rivals of deliberately holding back work on the new constitution in order to delay the elections.