Zimbabweans to vote Saturday in referendum on new constitution

By Tichaona Sibanda
15 March 2013

Zimbabweans will vote on Saturday on a proposed new constitution, five years after a general election that led to a disputed result and widespread violence that killed more than 500 people and displaced more than 500,000.

Voters above 18 years of age will be casting their ballots to accept or reject a new constitution. The new constitution is thought to be important in that it limits the terms of the president and gives Zimbabweans a bill of rights.

The constitution is being backed by both President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who ran against in each other in the 2008 presidential election that turned into violence and chaos.

The referendum was part of a deal that ended the violence after the last disputed election.

An MDC-T MP said the new constitution, if adopted, will make politicians far more accountable and generally clean up the extremely dirty world that is Zimbabwean politics.

‘But if the process tomorrow (Saturday) passes off peacefully, Zimbabwe can then also show the world it has turned a corner and moved on from the days when voting meant violence.

‘This is a poll seen as a test of democracy after the 2008 disaster and one that could reshape the politics of our nations after almost a decade of political and economic woes,’ the MP added.

Many Zimbabweans on both sides of the Yes and No campaigns agree the new constitution is not perfect, but our Harare correspondent says such a document will always need compromise.

It is expected Saturday’s vote will point to a Yes victory, as all the main political parties are backing this. Muchemwa said the passage of the new charter could usher in a new era.

But if people vote No, which Muchemwa said is ‘very remote’, the country will go to the next election using the current constitution with its 19 amendments. The current constitution includes the post of Prime Minister, held by the MDC’s Morgan Tsvangirai.

‘Delivering a new constitution was a key SADC requirement of the peace deal to end the violence. The current law dates back to independence and has allowed Mugabe to rule unchallenged.

‘The proposed legislation will, in theory, make the president and parliament more accountable, devolve power and improve citizens’ basic rights,’ Muchemwa added.

But the MDC Constitutional Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga said: “A new constitution will not guarantee us a free and fair election. What is going to guarantee us a free and fair election is a culture of constitutionalism.”