The Presidential Motorcade

ZIMSEC O Level History Notes: The Constitution of Zimbabwe: Chapter 5: The Executive (President, Vice Presidents, Ministers and Cabinet)

  • The Executive is the main branch of the government
  • The Executive has administrative duties including the formulating of policy
  • They also implement laws and this function is wide

Executive authority

  • Executive authority derives from the people of Zimbabwe and must be exercised in accordance with the Constitution
  • The executive authority of Zimbabwe vests in the President who exercises it, subject to the Constitution and helped by the Cabinet

The President

  • The President is the Head of State and Government and the Commander-in-Chief of
    the Defence Forces.

Duties of President

 

  • The President must:
    1. Uphold, defend, obey and respect this Constitution as the supreme law of the nation and must ensure that this Constitution and all the other laws are faithfully observed
    2. Promote unity and peace in the nation for the benefit and well-being of all
      the people of Zimbabwe
    3. Recognise and respect the ideals and values of the liberation struggle
    4. Ensure protection of the fundamental human rights and freedoms and the
      rule of law
    5. Respect the diversity of the people and communities of Zimbabwe

Qualifications for election as President and Vice-President

 

  • A person qualifies for election as President or Vice-President if he or she:
    1. Is a Zimbabwean citizen by birth or descent
    2. Has attained the age of forty years
    3. is ordinarily resident in Zimbabwe
    4. is registered as a voter
  • A person is disqualified for election as President or Vice-President if he or she has already held office as President under this Constitution for two terms, whether continuous or not, and for the purpose of this subsection three or more years’ service is deemed to be a full term

Presidential immunity

 

  • While in office, the President is not liable to civil or criminal proceedings in any court for things done or omitted to be done in his or her personal capacity
  • Civil or criminal proceedings may be instituted against a former President for things done and omitted to be done before he or she became President or while he or she was President
  • The running of prescription in relation to any debt or liability of the President arising before or during his or her term of office is suspended while he or she remains in office
  • In any proceedings brought against a former President for anything done or omitted to be done in his or her official capacity while he or she was President, it is a defence for him or her to prove that the thing was done or omitted in good faith

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