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Zimbabwe referendum result out March 19

Zimbabwe referendum result out March 19
The final result of Zimbabwe’s recent referendum on a new constitution will be announced on Tuesday.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairwoman Justice Rita Makarau made the announcement at a press conference in capital Harare on Monday.

“The result of the referendum shall be announced at 14:30 hours tomorrow the 19th of March,” Makarau stated.

Preliminary partial results seen at polling stations and those compiled by Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangira’s office demonstrated a landslide approval of the supreme law.

On Saturday, the polls closed after thousands of Zimbabweans casted their votes in a plebiscite which is generally regarded as a turning point in drafting of a constitution for the country’s political and social landscape.

Thomas Salamao, the executive secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), hailed the country for holding a peaceful referendum, saying, “This is a very important step. It is a milestone, prescribed in the goals of political agreements and it is paving the way for the most important step.”

After the disputed presidential election in 2008, a global political agreement was signed between the opposing parties. One of the resolutions of the agreement called for drafting a new constitution that would ensure smooth running of the national affairs.

The new constitution would curb the extensive powers that President Robert Mugabe has enjoyed under his 33-year rule and prepare the grounds for holding presidential and parliamentary elections in July.

The July elections are expected to put an end to the power struggles between Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Currently Zimbabwe is run based on the constitution which was introduced after country’s independence in 1980.

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