AG’s Office scrutinises draft Constitution

Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga last night said the deputy director responsible for drafting in the AG’s Office was scrutinising the document after which he would submit it for further proofreading at his ministry.

After proofreading, Minister Matinenga said the final draft Constitution would be taken for printing before being taken back to Parliament.

“It will be taken to Parliament from the printers, not for the purposes of debate, but for administrative purposes.”

Parliament through its Clerk, he said, would submit the draft Constitution to the President for his assent.

Minister Matinenga could, however, not give timelines as to when all the remaining processes would be completed.

He said after Presidential assent, the new constitution would be gazetted as the country’s new supreme law.

After publication, there will be alignment of electoral laws to the new constitution through a Bill (Electoral Amendment Act) to provide for new electoral provisions among them proportional representation, women’s quota and provincial councils.

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The remaining processes need to be expedited since the life of the Seventh Parliament expires on June 29.

In essence, it means Zimbabwe should have elections before or on June 29 to avoid a constitutional crisis.

If Zimbabwe fails to hold elections before the expiry of the Seventh Parliament the country would be ruled by decree until elections are held.

President Mugabe has indicated that it is not his desire to disobey the country’s constitution by delaying the holding of elections beyond June 29.

However, the MDC formations are making spirited efforts to delay elections beyond June 29.
MDC-T is not interested in early elections after it was unnerved by recent assessments by its traditional allies that have pointed to a Zanu-PF victory.

MDC-T recently admitted in its election strategy document that there had been massive voter apathy in its perceived strongholds.

This, coupled with the party’s failure to draft a manifesto ahead of elections has been identified among the reasons behind the party’s reluctance to go for elections.