The Constitution of Zimbabwe: Introduction

An image of the draft constitution of 2013

Introduction

• This topic seeks to define the Zimbabwean constitution and explain its functions
• It also seeks to explain the background of the Zimbabwe constitution
• It describe the bill of rights enshrined in the constitution
• The topic discusses the weaknesses and strengths of the constitution
• The topic explains the amendments made to the constitution after 1980
• It describes why making a new constitution in 2000 was unsuccessful

The Origins of the Zimbabwe Constitution

• The first constitution of Zimbabwe was formulated at the Lancaster House which took place from September to December 1979
• It was attended by delegates from all political parties in Zimbabwe
• The constitution was to decide how the new Zimbabwe was to be ruled
• The constitution had a lot of compromises between the settlers and the guerillas
• The PF could not stomach the fact that 20 seats had to be reserved for whites voters only in the parliament
• The new government was not supposed to seize land for the next ten years
• The parties then agreed to the constitution and was the framework used in the governance of Rhodesia up to 2013
• The constitution was published by the United Kingdom government as Statutory Instrument 1979/160
• The second Zimbabwe constitution was passed in 2013 and has been in use since

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