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Zimbabwe parliament forms committee to draft new constitution

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The Zimbabwean House Speaker announced Sunday the formation of a committee to draft a new constitution. The drafting of a new constitution was part of the power sharing agreement signed last September by President Robert Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader and now-Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirari. The committee will be composed of 25 members of parliament, including nine from Mugabe's African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), 12 from the two formations of the MDC, a chief, and three other appointed positions. The committee will meet for the first time on Monday, and hopes to have a draft of the new constitution prepared by February 2010. This would allow the draft to be introduced to parliament by October of next year and adopted by the end of 2010. Zimbabwe last attempted a constitutional referendum in 2000. That referendum was rejected due to concerns about the attempt of power that would be given to Mugabe. Following the defeat, Mugabe launched violent attacks against his opponents. Recently, concerns have arisen regarding potential threats to the power sharing agreement when MDC treasurer Roy Bennett was indicted on terrorism and other charges. In March, Bennett was released on bail, but is still facing a likely appeal from the attorney general. Bennett was originally sought for questioning in relation to the allegations in 2006, but he had been seeking asylum in South Africa until recently. Treason charges against him were dropped in favor of the terrorism and other charges.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on April 13, 2009 (boomark / email).