News / National
Mugabe has signed constitution into law
22 May 2013 at 13:03hrs | Views
Photo by Stanley Kwenda
President Robert Mugabe signed the new Zimbabwe Constitution into law at State House this afternoon.
The new document- approved by over 90 percent of Zimbabweans in a referendum held in March- replaces the 1980 Lancaster House Constitution that came out of negotiations at the country's independence from Britain.
The ceremony was attended by top government officials, diplomats, and representatives of non-governmental organisations.
Mugabe's unity government partners, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Vice President Joice Mujuru, and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara were among those in attendance.
The document now awaits gazetting in terms of coming into force as there are two critical dates, the publication date and the effective date.
The signing of the constitution into law is expected to pave way for the holding of harmonised elections this year.
It also brings the curtain down on a constitution-making process which was moving at a snail pace taking over three years to complete.
The constitution making process started in 2009, a couple of months after the signing of the GPA that gave birth to the inclusive government.
The signing of the document brings an end to the Lancaster House Constitution which was amended 19 times.
The new document- approved by over 90 percent of Zimbabweans in a referendum held in March- replaces the 1980 Lancaster House Constitution that came out of negotiations at the country's independence from Britain.
The ceremony was attended by top government officials, diplomats, and representatives of non-governmental organisations.
Mugabe's unity government partners, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Vice President Joice Mujuru, and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara were among those in attendance.
The document now awaits gazetting in terms of coming into force as there are two critical dates, the publication date and the effective date.
The signing of the constitution into law is expected to pave way for the holding of harmonised elections this year.
It also brings the curtain down on a constitution-making process which was moving at a snail pace taking over three years to complete.
The constitution making process started in 2009, a couple of months after the signing of the GPA that gave birth to the inclusive government.
The signing of the document brings an end to the Lancaster House Constitution which was amended 19 times.
Source - newsday
