News / National
Mugabe wins big on constitution
18 Jul 2012 at 08:37hrs | Views
The revised draft constitution has no age restriction for presidential candidates and maintains the two Vice-Presidents posts â€" provisions that are likely to soften Zanu-PF to endorse the new charter.
Zanu-PF hardliners were angered by the leaked first draft produced by the parliamentary Constitution Select Committee (Copac) in April, which they claimed was targeted at President Robert Mugabe.
The document proposed to bar presidential election candidates above the age of 70, scrap the provision for two Vice-Presidents and provide for devolution of power, a concept that has been rejected by Mugabe outrightly.
But according to the second draft, Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations have reached several far-reaching compromises with the 88-year-old leader emerging as the biggest winner.
Mugabe wants to stand for another term and has already been endorsed by Zanu-PF to contest in elections he wants held this year.
Although the proposed constitution would restrict the presidential tenure to a maximum of two five-year terms, it would not affect the veteran ruler who has been in power since 1980 since it will not be applied in retrospect.
The retention of two Vice-Presidents would also help him in dealing with Zanu-PF internal politics where the posts have been used in ethnic balancing.
The only new clause that could affect Mugabe is Section 5:11 that deals with Heads of States' immunity against prosecution.
It says the President is not liable to civil or criminal proceedings in any court for the "things done or omitted to be done" in his or her personal capacity as President.
However, the immunity ends as soon as one leaves office and the former President will be answerable for past crimes.
Zanu-PF hardliners were angered by the leaked first draft produced by the parliamentary Constitution Select Committee (Copac) in April, which they claimed was targeted at President Robert Mugabe.
The document proposed to bar presidential election candidates above the age of 70, scrap the provision for two Vice-Presidents and provide for devolution of power, a concept that has been rejected by Mugabe outrightly.
But according to the second draft, Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations have reached several far-reaching compromises with the 88-year-old leader emerging as the biggest winner.
Mugabe wants to stand for another term and has already been endorsed by Zanu-PF to contest in elections he wants held this year.
Although the proposed constitution would restrict the presidential tenure to a maximum of two five-year terms, it would not affect the veteran ruler who has been in power since 1980 since it will not be applied in retrospect.
The retention of two Vice-Presidents would also help him in dealing with Zanu-PF internal politics where the posts have been used in ethnic balancing.
The only new clause that could affect Mugabe is Section 5:11 that deals with Heads of States' immunity against prosecution.
It says the President is not liable to civil or criminal proceedings in any court for the "things done or omitted to be done" in his or her personal capacity as President.
However, the immunity ends as soon as one leaves office and the former President will be answerable for past crimes.
Source - newsday
