{"id":4046,"date":"2013-05-22T12:25:04","date_gmt":"2013-05-22T12:25:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigeria-news\/zimbabwes-mugabe-signs-new-constitution-into-law\/"},"modified":"2013-05-22T12:25:04","modified_gmt":"2013-05-22T12:25:04","slug":"zimbabwes-mugabe-signs-new-constitution-into-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/zimbabwes-mugabe-signs-new-constitution-into-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Zimbabwe\u2019s Mugabe signs new constitution into law"},"content":{"rendered":"
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President Robert Mugabe has ruled uninterrupted since Zimbabwe's independence from Britain in 1980. Picture: AFP<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

HARARE\u00a0\u00a0(AFP) \u2013 President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday signed Zimbabwe\u2019s new constitution into law, clearing the path to crucial elections later this year.<\/p>\n

The longtime ruler inked the document two months after it was overwhelmingly approved in a referendum.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis day is an historic day, it\u2019s about the future,\u201d Constitutional Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga said at the signing ceremony, held in a marquee erected on the lush green lawns of the State House.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can assure you that this document which is before us is a good document.\u201d<\/p>\n

A new constitution is one of the pre-conditions for elections to pick a successor to the shaky compromise government Mugabe formed four years ago with his nemesis Morgan Tsvangirai.<\/p>\n

The new constitution curtails the president\u2019s powers, limits presidential tenures to two five-year terms and does away with the post of prime minister.<\/p>\n

Mugabe, 89, has ruled Zimbabwe since the country gained independence from Britain in 1980.<\/p>\n

His 33-year-rule has been tainted by allegations of rights abuses against his opponents and critics.<\/p>\n

The constitution was endorsed in a referendum in March and later sailed unopposed through both houses of parliament.<\/p>\n

Mugabe and Tsvangirai formed a power-sharing government four years ago to avoid a descent into full-scale conflict in the aftermath of a bloody presidential run-off election in 2008.<\/p>\n

The power-sharing government has been hobbled by frequent haggling over the allocations of key government posts, the implementation of key reforms and charges of violence.<\/p>\n

Elections should be held this year but the date is yet to be set.<\/p>\n

Mugabe and his allies want the polls as soon as possible while Tsvangirai insists on the application of reforms first to ensure a free and fair vote.<\/p>\n

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