This version replaces the previously circulated 25 january copy. New zimbabwe constitution can usher in new culture of human rights 22 may 20, 00. It is a step forward in the process of building democracy in zimbabwe as it captures the critical aspect of separation of powers, embodies. Review of the draft constitution for the republic of zambia july 11, 2012 muna ndulo professor of law, cornell university law school director, cornell institute for african development honorary professor of law, cape town university extra ordinary professor of law, free state university, south africa 1. Below is the link to the draft republican constitution as of august 20. Jul 24, 2012 zimbabwe s longawaited draft constitution is finally out, after four years of bickering between the coalition government parties. The constitutional bill was gazetted on 28 march 20. Copac teams will from tuesday start distributing 10,000 copies of the document to each province. The constitutions effective date is 22nd august 20. This constitution is the supreme law of zimbabwe and any law, practice, custom or conduct inconsistent with it is. Thus zimbabwe is now on a path towards what is referred to as rightsbased approach to social policy. The copac select committee yesterday endorsed the new draft constitution and will table it before parliament next week when it resumes sitting.
An assessment of the judicial service commission in. New zimbabwe constitution can usher in new culture of human. Ultimately the new constitution was approved by 94. What zimbabwes draft constitution has to say about.
Draft constitution reduces chiefs to size newsday zimbabwe. Chairman of the technical committee drafting the republican constitution justice annel silungwe has assured that the final draft constitution will be ready not later than december 20. Overally, this proposed draft constitution is better than the current constitution of zimbabwe. What zimbabwes draft constitution has to say about citizenship by living zimbabwe on february 2, 20 in politics, rights there have been and probably are still a few sticking points in zimbabwes draft constitution and one or them happens to be the issue of citizenship.
The summary does not contain all the details in the draft but only information on the main. Draft new constitution approved in referendum global. Zimbabwe ushered in a new constitution on 22 may 20 marking a major milestone in the sociopolitico and economic development of the country. Consolidation including constitution of zimbabwe amendment no. We the people of zimbabwe, united in our diversity by our common desire for freedom, justice and equality, and our heroic resistance to colonialism, racism and all forms of domination and oppression, exalting and extolling the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives during the chimurenga umvukela and national liberation struggles, honouring our forebears and. The constitution of zimbabwe 20 as a basis for local. Pdf disability in zimbabwe under the new constitution. The yes vote will almost certainly pass, and zimbabwe will get its new constitution, but a low turnout will suggest that zimbabweans. Constitution of zimbabwe 20 pdf format the new zimbabwe constitution was enacted by the constitution of zimbabwe amendment no.
The copac constitution grants mugabe and zanu pf the licence to use all manner of dirty tricks to deny the people of zimbabwe the right to free and fair elections by allowing them to retain a strangle hold on the countryas media, hold elections using the same chaotic voters role and worst of all allow mugabe to use wanton violence. The powers of traditional chiefs have been clipped under the new constitution draft adopted by copac on thursday, ending years of alleged abuse of power by the traditional leaders whom critics say. The parliamentary select committee copac produced its final draft constitution for the. Citizenship and immigration board appointed by president with power to grant or revoke citizenship by registration, more functions can be specified in law passed by parliament. Demands and gains of people with disabilities article pdf available september 20 with 10,1 reads how we measure reads. The final session of zimbabwes seventh parliament opened this week with the passing of a new constitution at the top of the agenda. Zimbabwe parliament discusses draft constitution youtube. President robert mugabe today signed into law a new constitution, following a threeyear constitutionmaking process to replace the lancaster house constitution adopted at independence in 1980. This final draft represents such a constitution and the nca will advocate for its enactment into law. Constitution of zimbabwe ace electoral knowledge network. The defeat was unexpected and was taken as a personal rebuff for president robert mugabe and a political triumph for the newly formed opposition group, the movement for democratic change. New final draft constitution of the republic of zimbabwe the new final draft constitution of the republic of zimbabwe. This global legal monitor article by wendy zeldin covering constitutional law, torture was published on march 26, 20 for zimbabwe.
Under the 1961 constitution, britain relinquished virtually all its powers in return for a declaration of rights and a. This constitution is the supreme law of zimbabwe and any law, practice, custom or conduct inconsistent with it. The final draft of the constitution of zimbabwe download pdf the parliamentary select committee copac produced its final draft constitution for the country of zimbabwe. May 10, 20 the final session of zimbabwe s seventh parliament opened this week with the passing of a new constitution at the top of the agenda. A constitutional referendum was held in zimbabwe on 12 february 2000. Enacted by the president and the parliament of zimbabwe. There are many areas in the draft that have critical implications on transitional justice. President robert mugabe today signed into law a new constitution, following.
For the first time, it limits a president to two fiveyear terms, but is not retroactive, meaning that robert mugabe, already the oldest african leader at the age of 89, could continue to rule until he turned 99 in 2023. The proposed new constitution of zimbabwe, which had been drafted by a constitutional convention the previous year, was defeated. Constitution of zimbabwe arrangement of sections chapter 1 the republic and the constitution section 1. Zimbabwes new constitution presents a golden opportunity for the country to break away from a culture of impunity for human rights violations, amnesty international said today. Summary of the main features of this draft constitution inorder to understand the main features of this draft constitution, it is important to revisit the main reasons why the nca rejected the draft by the constitutional commission of zimbabwe and vigorously campaigned for a no vote in the referendum of february 2000. The constitution of zimbabwe is the supreme law of zimbabwe. Critically though, there is need for zimbabwe to set a vision of the local government consistent with the ideals of the 20 constitution and to. The independence constitution of 1980 was the result of the 1979 lancaster house agreement and is sometimes called the lancaster constitution.
Zimbabwes longawaited draft constitution is finally out, after four years of bickering between the coalition government parties. Download pdf the final draft of the constitution of zimbabwe. After 36 months of discussions, the constitutional select committee of parliament produced a final draft of the constitution on july 18, 2012. We the people of zimbabwe, united in our diversity by our common desire for freedom, justice and equality, and our heroic resistance to colonialism, racism and all forms of domination and oppression, exalting and extolling the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives during the chimurenga umvukela and national liberation struggles, honouring our forebears and compatriots who. Twitter law library external link twitter congress. The constitution of zimbabwe had been drawn up as part of the lancaster house agreement of 1979 and had served the country for nearly 20 years. Download pdf the parliamentary select committee copac produced its final draft constitution for the country of zimbabwe. This act may be cited as the constitution of zimbabwe amendment no. Zim distributes copies of draft constitution the mail. An assessment of the judicial service commission in zimbabwe.
The management committee, comprising negotiators from the three political parties in the unity government, worked through the. This is an edited version which was produced by copac on 1 february 20. Zimbabwe draft constitution cleared for referendum reuters. Zimbabwes parliament has been presented with a longawaited draft constitution, opening the way for a referendum followed by elections this year in the impoverished southern african country. Feb 06, 20 zimbabwe s parliament has been presented with a longawaited draft constitution, opening the way for a referendum followed by elections this year in the impoverished southern african country. New zimbabwe constitution can usher in new culture of. Constitution in the schedule to that act, are repealed in so far as they form part of the laws of zambia. National flag, national anthem, public seal and coat of arms. There was a widespread feeling in zimbabwe that it was too heavily influenced by the countrys colonial past, and that a new constitution written in the light of the experience of independence was desirable. Copac considered that it will be easier for a person who may have no time to read the whole draft, to read only this summary and obtain an appreciation of the contents of the draft. Feb 18, 20 we are starting distribution today of 90 000 copies of the draft constitution in various languages as well as braille and audio versions, said jessie majome on monday, a spokesperson for the. We are starting distribution today of 90 000 copies of the draft constitution in various languages as well as braille and audio versions, said jessie majome on monday, a spokesperson for the. The draft constitution sailed through parliament yesterday with mdct copac cochairperson douglas mwonzora saying if passed into law, legislators would be empowered to stop the president from.
New constitution approved by parliamentary committee, global legal monitor feb. An analysis of the copac final draft constitution of 1 february 20. The new zimbabwe constitution was enacted by the constitution of zimbabwe amendment no. It might not necessary represent the full final copy handed to the pr. A proposed constitution, drafted by a constitutional convention, was defeated. The new constitution was approved in the referendum of 16 march 20. Washington dc the constitution parliamentary select committee copac on monday launched a nationwide publicity campaign to educate ordinary zimbabweans on the draft charter ahead of the march 16 national constitutional referendum.
The author the constitutional history and the 20 referendum. Where a person who is resident in zimbabwe has been convicted in another country of an offence against a law in force in that country, the president may declare. The final draft of the constitution of zimbabwe constitutionnet. After the expiration of the constitutional thirtyday period, the bill was tabled before parliament before. An analysis of the copac final draft constitution of 1. The nca will be leading a process of ensuring that zimbabwe eventually has a new, democratic and peopledriven constitution. Constitution of zimbabwe 20 pdf format note by veritas. The constitutional history and the 20 referendum of zimbabwe a nordem special report 20 the constitutional history and the 20 referendum of zimbabwe a nordem special report 20 kare vollan the author kare vollan is the director and owner of the company quality as. An analysis of the copac final draft constitution of 1 february 20 c reserved, zimbabwe lawyers for human rights, february 20 citizenship and immigration board appointed by president with power to grant or revoke citizenship by registration, more functions can be specified in law passed by parliament. An analysis of the copac draft constitution on the provisions dealing with transitional justice introduction on 31 january 20, the parliamentary select committee copac published the final draft of the zimbabwean constitution the draft with 345 sections. The management committee, comprising negotiators from the three political parties in the unity government, worked through the night until they agreed on the final draft on july 17. Constitution of zimbabwe as amended at th february, 2009 including amendments made by constitution of zimbabwe amendment no.
For the first time, it limits a president to two fiveyear terms, but is not retroactive, meaning that robert mugabe, already the oldest african leader at the age of 89. Final draft constitution of zimbabwe 20 to assist the public understand the contents of the draft. The final draft constitution of zimbabwe 31 lawson avenue, milton park, harare, zimbabwe. The draft constitution is a major stepping stone for general elections set for late 20. Judicial service commission, zimbabwe 91 4 the zimbabwe constitution select committee copac draft constitution was overwhelmingly endorsed at a referendum conducted on 16 march 20. Review of the draft constitution for the republic of zambia. For once, those old enemies found themselves in agreement. The final session will bring an end to the parliament, the. Copy of the draft republican constitution as of august 20. Subject to this act, the constitution shall come into operation on the date of assent by the president. Final draft constitution of zimbabwe bulawayo24 news. The constitution of zimbabwe was published as a schedule to the zimbabwe constitution order 1979 s. This constitution is the supreme law of zimbabwe and if any other law is inconsistent with this constitution that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.
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