Smiths campaign for acceptance of the draft constitution by white voters in a referendum on 30 january, 1979 and the results of the. Aligning the administrative justice act with the constitution. Otto saki is a projects lawyer responsible for human rights defenders and international litigation projects with zimbabwe lawyers for human rights. Contents of the constitution legal definition of contents of. Working peoples organisations led and organised by the zimbabwe congress of trade unions met at a convention, in harare, to discuss various issues of concern. It was ushered through constitution of zimbabwe amendment no. The name of an incorporated association is the name of the association followed by the word incorporated. A history of zimbabwe, 18902000 and postscript, zimbabwe.
Thematic analysis of zimbabwes proposed draft constitution a report by. Dec 11, 2016 subject to this constitution, every zimbabwean citizen has the right to free, fair and regular elections for any legislative body, including a provincial council and a local authority, established under this constitution or any act of parliament. A constitutional referendum was held in zimbabwe on 12 february 2000. Notwithstanding the various challenges that confronted the constitution making process, the new constitution remains. Zimbabwes constitution of 20 with amendments through 2017. Final papers of the 2016 national symposium on the promise of the declaration of rights under the constitution of zimbabwe. Chapter 14 of the new constitution of zimbabwe introduces a devolved system of governance for the first time in the countrys history. The constitution of zimbabwe the right to free expression is guaranteed in section 20 of the constitution, which states. The preamble to the declaration of rights commerce as follows. The constitution of zimbabwe adopted in 20 represents a major milestone in the development of constitutional democracy in zimbabwe. This complete constitution has been generated from excerpts of texts from the repository of the.
The history of zimbabwes constitutional development can be traced back to 1888 when the british south africa company bsac gained exclusive mining rights. Zimbabwes first constitution, which was written in london during septemberdecember 1979 and which took effect at independence on april 18, 1980, secured majority rule for zimbabweans. It is a step forward in the process of building democracy in zimbabwe as it captures the critical aspect of separation of powers, embodies the culture of fundamental rights, constitutionalism as well as limited presidential authority. Under the constitution, white voters, registered on a separate roll, elected 20 of the 100 members of the house of assembly. The current constitution of zimbabwe is a homegrown constitution which process took close to three years. We the people of zimbabwe, united in our diversity by our common desire for freedom, justice and equality, and our heroic resistance to colonialism. The constitution s effective date is 22nd august 20. The house of assembly voted with over twothirds majority for the amendment of the zimbabwean constitution. An analysis of traditional leadership, customary law and access to justice in zimbabwes constitutional framework. Mutumwa mawere vs registrar general and others 8 table 3. China is one of the countries with the longest histories in the world. The constitution of zimbabwe is the supreme law of zimbabwe. Of these, 60 members are elected from 10 sixmember constituencies based on the.
Constitutionmaking in southern africa despite tremendous and costly effort on the part of citizens, parliamentarians, commissioners, technical experts, and international partners, two out of the three constitutional processes in tanzania, zambia and zimbabwe have failed at the last hurdle, leaving that effort unfulfilled. This complete constitution has been generated from excerpts of texts from. Zimbabwe constitution, index page document table of contents. Under the 1961 constitution, britain relinquished virtually all its powers in return for a declaration of rights and a. Nov 15, 2019 the constitution of zimbabwe is the supreme law of zimbabwe. Subject to this constitution, every zimbabwean citizen has the right to free, fair and regular elections for any legislative body, including a provincial council and a local authority, established under this constitution or any act of parliament. Background congressional research service summary zimbabwes prospects appeared promising in 1980, as it gained independence after a long liberation war. Zimbabwes constitution of 20 with amendments through. This complete constitution has been generated from excerpts of texts from the repository of the comparative constitutions project, and distributed on. This system, at least conceptually, is different from the centralized system of governance that existed previously. Proposed constitution of zimbabwe wikisource, the free. Zimbabwe s constitution of 20 with amendments through 2017.
The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. The independence constitution of 1980 was the result of the 1979 lancaster house agreement and is sometimes called the lancaster constitution. He has been a fellow with the institute for human rights and development in africa gambia. The land reform and property rights in zimbabwe of 2010 is a sequel report to the 2007, adding insult to injury, a preliminary report on human rights violations on commercial farms 20002005. This act may be cited as the constitution of zimbabwe amendment no. The constitution zimbabwe darwin community association. The people of all nationalities in china have jointly created a splendid culture.
Constitution was drafted in 1787 in philadelphia by delegates to the constitutional convention. Subject to this constitution, every adult zimbabwe citizen has the right. Notwithstanding the various challenges that confronted the constitution making process, the. The senate of zimbabwe is the upper of the two chambers in zimbabwes parliament. Table of contents zimbabwe legal information institute. This constitution is the supreme law of zimbabwe and any law, practice. Media laws in zimbabwe by wilbert mandinde follows an analysis of legislation affecting free expression and access to information in zimbabwe. The introductory section of this report covers briefly the history of zimbabwe up to independence from the united kingdom in april 1980, the basic provisions of the zimbabwean constitution and the relevant obligations under. Provincial and local government institutions in zimbabwe 6 2. May 22, 20 aligning the administrative justice act with the constitution. Whereas persons in zimbabwe are entitled, subject to the provisions of this constitution, to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual specified in this chapter, and whereas it is the duty of every person to respect and abide by the constitution and the laws of zimbabwe, the provisions of this chapter shall. The constitutions effective date is 22nd august 20. Zimbabwe zimbabwe administration and social conditions. Rising inflation and unemployment bred discontent in the 1990s and led in 1999 to the formation of the opposition movement for democratic change mdc.
Contents of the constitution legal definition of contents. Under the constitution, white voters, registered on a separate roll, elected 20 of the 100 members of the house of. The constitution of zimbabwe had been drawn up as part of the lancaster house agreement of 1979 and had served the country for nearly 20 years. Zimbabwe, officially the republic of zimbabwe, erstwhile rhodesia, is a landlocked country located in southern africa, between the zambezi and limpopo rivers, bordered by south africa, botswana, zambia and mozambique. Mar 18, 20 the low turnout means zimbabwe s constitution could end up being another chance for mugabes zanupf to laugh at the law mon 18 mar 20 17. Enacted by the president and the parliament of zimbabwe. Constitution for the movement for democratic change mdc preamble whereas from the 26th to the 28th february 1999, delegates representing various working peoples organisations led and organised by the zimbabwe congress of trade unions met at a convention, in harare, to discuss various issues of concern regarding zimbabwe.
Constitution of zimbabwe arrangement of sections preamble chapter i the republic and the constitution section 1. Final draft constitution of zimbabwe 20 to assist the public understand the contents of the draft. Constitution of zimbabwe wikimili, the free encyclopedia. The obligations imposed by this constitution are binding on every person, natural. The other chamber of parliament is the house of assembly. Government developed the national health strategy for zimbabwe 20162020 which seeks to achieve zequity and quality in health. James vs zimbabwe electoral commission and others 8 box 1. This constitution is the supreme law of zimbabwe and any law, practice, custom or conduct inconsistent with it is invalid to the extent of the inconsistency. Smiths campaign for acceptance of the draft constitution by white voters in a referendum on 30 january, 1979 and the results of the referendum. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the changes to legislation area. Zimbabwe country constitutional profile constitutionnet. There is a public seal of zimbabwe, showing the coat of arms of zimbabwe with the. Constitution for rhodesia, 1969, the land tenure act. The lancaster house conference was attended by the patriotic front zanu and zapu delegation, jointly led by the writer and joshua nkomo, and by the zimbabwerhodesia delegation, with bishop muzorewa, silas mundawarara, ian smith, and ndabaningi sithole as.
It existed from independence in 1980 until 1989, and was reintroduced in november 2005. He holds a bachelor of laws hons from the university of zimbabwe. Some of the new constitutions clauses do not take effect for 10 years. Constitution of the peoples republic of china adopted on december 4, 1982 preamble. A country of roughly 14 million people, zimbabwe has 16 official. There was a widespread feeling in zimbabwe that it was too heavily influenced by the countrys colonial past, and that a new constitution written in the light of the experience of independence was desirable. The constitution is a schedule of section 2 to this act.
Zimbabwe administration and social conditions britannica. A proposed constitution, drafted by a constitutional convention, was defeated by a constitutiona. Under the 1961 constitution, britain relinquished virtually. Copac considered that it will be easier for a person who may have no time to read the whole draft, to read only this summary and obtain an appreciation of the contents of the draft. A proposed constitution, drafted by a constitutional convention, was defeated by a constitutional referendum during 2000. African customary law, customs, and womens rights muna ndulo. Provision for the right to health under section 76 of the constitution.
Under a devolved system, it is expected that certain. It is the view of zimbabwe lawyers for human rights zlhr that the bill raises serious concerns, and the portfolio committee. Zimbabwe is a unitary, democratic and sovereign republic. The delegates decided soon after their arrival that the articles of confederation could not be saved through amendment and that an entirely new constitution should be written to replace it. Constitution making in southern africa despite tremendous and costly effort on the part of citizens, parliamentarians, commissioners, technical experts, and international partners, two out of the three constitutional processes in tanzania, zambia and zimbabwe have failed at the last hurdle, leaving that effort unfulfilled. Afm saga takes new twist nehanda radio zimbabwe news and. The low turnout means zimbabwes constitution could end up being another chance for mugabes zanupf to laugh at the law mon 18 mar 20 17.