'Zimbabweans vote in favour of new charter'
2013-03-19 10:52
Special Report
As Zimbabwe approaches watershed elections, a renowned lawyer at the forefront of defending human rights activists has vowed never to give up.
Harare - Zimbabweans have voted overwhelmingly in favour of
a new constitution that would trim President Robert Mugabe's powers, unofficial
results showed on Tuesday.
Tallies from regional counting centres published by
state-controlled daily The Herald found 3.1 million voters of a total of nearly
3.4 people who cast their ballots had approved the supreme law.
The paper said 200 000 people rejected the proposed
constitution in Saturday's vote.
An estimated six million citizens were eligible as voters.
The electoral commission is due to release the final
official results at 12:30 GMT.
Mugabe and his long-time rival Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai had lent their backing to the draft constitution.
The text limits presidents to two five-year terms in office,
boosts parliament's powers and abolishes the post of prime minister.
The referendum held on Saturday was hailed by the United
States and regional observers as peaceful and credible.
It's approval will also clear the way for elections later
this year.
The new vote will end the tense power-sharing arrangement
set up by Mugabe and Tsvangirai after chaotic 2008 elections.
- AFP
