Zimbabwe constitution passes hurdle

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change lacked the votes to block it, but Chamisa said the decision not to put up a token fight was a gesture of goodwill, and that the pointed to progress in South African-mediated talks between it and the government.

The Herald newspaper, a government mouthpiece, had reported earlier it understood agreements had been reached between the government and opposition on constitutional matters, among other issues.

It did not elaborate, but said a recent meeting of the ruling party had “noted with satisfaction” progress in the South African-mediated talks.

Mugabe is under pressure to make concessions because of the collapsing economy, with acute shortages and inflation that, according to the International Monetary Fund, may hit 100,000% by the end of the year.

Zimbabwe’s Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, who is also the main government negotiator in the talks with the opposition, presented the amendment today.

Among other provisions, it would allows parliament to nominate a successor for president in the event Mugabe, the only ruler since independence in 1980, dies in office or leaves because of ill health or retirement. Critics say that would allow Mugabe to choose his successor.

The existing constitution allows for a vice president to take over day-to-day running of the government ahead of a new presidential polls within 90 days of Mugabe’s departure.

The amendment also would combine presidential and parliamentary elections for the first time in 2008, effectively reducing Mugabe’s current term from six to five years, equivalent to the life of the Harare parliament. Mugabe, though, was expected to run again in 2008.

The amendment also would enlarge the upper house, or Senate, from 66 members to 84 and the regular parliament chamber, known as the House of Assembly, from 150 to 210 members.

Critics say that could allow Mugabe to put more of his people in parliament.

MDC spokesman Chamisa said his party’s acceptance of the amendment was a “bold step to show our commitment to a process that will result in a new constitution”.

Chamisa said the “Mugabe regime has acceded to the idea” that there was a need for constitutional reform in order for there to be free and fair elections next year.

“And as result there has to be instruments and institutions necessary to achieve the resolution of the crisis,” he said, adding that this meant the establishment of an independent electoral body as well as the relaxing of security laws.

Officials from both sides, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks, had hinted the government would ease sweeping security laws that prevent free political activity and require police clearance, rarely granted, for opposition rallies, demonstrations and political meetings. The relaxing of draconian media laws could follow.

The opposition is said to have set aside its demand for a new constitution to enable free and fair elections to be held in March, settling instead for reforms to existing electoral laws that favour the ruling party and a possible postponement of the national polls to June to allow time for reforms to be worked out.

MDC spokesman Chamisa said his side’s approach “is some kind of compromise as it deviates from a total redress of the constitution”.

“It is a shift that is meant to unlock future process in terms of arriving at a new dispensation,” he said.

Zimbabwe’s media reported that Mbeki met on Saturday in the South African capital Pretoria with both leaders of the splintered Movement for Democratic Change, although there has been no official confirmation of this.

The Herald said it was “reliably informed” that the negotiating teams had also met without the South African facilitators.