Zim awaits referendum final verdict
2013-03-19 09:04
Special Report
Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF party is mulling over a special congress at which top vacant positions will be filled and the succession of President Robert Mugabe would be decided, according to a report.
Harare - The final outcome of Zimbabwe's referendum on a new
constitution designed to pave way for general elections will be announced on
Tuesday, according to the electoral commission. .
"The result of the referendum shall be announced at
14:30 hours tomorrow the 19th of March," said the commission's boss
justice Rita Makaraushe on Monday.
Preliminary partial results seen at polling stations and
those compiled by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangira's office pointed to a
landslide approval of the supreme law.
The draft constitution - a result of more than three years
of work - clears way for long awaited elections that will decide whether to
hand veteran leader President Robert Mugabe a new term.
Mugabe and long-time rival Tsvangirai had lent their backing
to the draft constitution which made its adoption at the weekend referendum
certain.
The new constitution limits the presidential tenure to two
five-year terms, curtails presidential powers and abolishes the post of prime
minister.
The United States and regional observers handed the
referendum a clean bill of health describing it as peaceful and credible.
It was however tainted by the arrest, a day after, of
Tsvangirai's staffers and a prominent lawyer.
There were also isolated cases of violence in the run up to
the vote.
- AFP
