Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) New Zim constitution on track: Sadc

New Zim constitution on track: Sadc
Reuters/TZG reporters
Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:12:00 +0000

ZIMBABWE is on track to draw up a new constitution, the head of regional body Sadc's parliamentary forum said on Friday, but he did not say when the charter is expected to be adopted. The new charter will replace the Lancaster House Constitution drawn up in 1979 before independence from Britain.

"I am very confident that Zimbabwe will come out with an answer to the problems of Zimbabwe, including the constitutional dispensation," Prince Guduza Dlamini, president of the Southern African Development Community's (Sadc) parliamentary forum, told Reuters.

Dlamini was speaking on the sidelines of the opening session of the two-day conference of the Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa (AWEPA), taking place about 40 km (25 miles) north of Cape Town.

Dlamini did not say when the Sadc, which helped broker the formation of Zimbabwe's inclusive Government, wanted a new constitution to be completed.

The convention in July was part of a process which should lead to the adoption of a new constitution and to elections in about two years.

Dlamini said the charter could have a positive impact on Zimbabwe's neighbours.

"We are all interdependent, so if country X is having problems, those problems are going to filter through to some of the member countries.

"If we are able to live up to the expectations of the community (Sadc), we believe we will develop together," said Dlamini, also the Speaker of Swaziland's parliament.

Dlamini said an Sadc delegation visited Zimbabwe last month on a fact-finding mission and the Sadc parliamentary forum would hold its next plenary meeting in Zimbabwe sometime in October.

Reuters/TZG

Labels: CONSTITUTION, LANCASTER HOUSE AGREEMENT, SADC

posted by MrK @ 5:16 PM