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COPAC summary of draft Constitution
Zimbabwe
Constitution Select Committee (COPAC)
February 22, 2013
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Introduction
The Constitution
Parliamentary Select Committee (COPAC) has produced
this Summary of The Final Draft Constitution of Zimbabwe 2013
to assist the public understand the contents of the Draft.
The Draft is 172 pages long. 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.
The Summary
does not contain all the details in the Draft but only information
on the main provisions to enable the reader to make an informed
decision.
The
Preamble
The preamble
expresses and acknowledges colonial injustices, honours the sacrifices
of the men and women who fought to overcome the injustices. It also
looks to the future with a resolve to live in a democratic society
based on the rule of law, hard work, respect for and enjoyment of
the fundamental human rights and freedoms, unity, our natural resources
and attain prosperity for all citizens.
Chapter
1
Founding Provisions
(sections 1-7)
Zimbabwe is
founded on the following values and principles:
Zimbabwe is
a unitary, democratic and sovereign republic;
- the Constitution
is its supreme law and any law, practice custom or conduct inconsistent
with the Constitution is invalid;
- the Constitution
binds everyone, including juristic persons, the State, all executive,
legislative and judicial institutions and all agencies of government;
- supremacy
of the Constitution, the rule of law, human rights, the nation's
religious and cultural diversity, the inherent dignity of every
person, equality of all; gender equality, and respect for the
liberation struggle;
- Good governance
which includes:
- a multi-party
political system;
- an electoral
system which ensures the holding of free and fair elections
regularly;
- the orderly
transfer of political power after an election;
- separation
of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial
arms of the State;
- respect
for the people;
- the fostering
of national unity and peace;
- recognition
of the rights of minority groups;
- fair
sharing of national resources;
- devolution
and decentralisation of governmental power;
- a national
flag,a national anthem, a coat of arms and a public seal;
- three tiers
of government, namely, National government, Provincial Councils
and Local Authorities;
- official
recognition of all the major spoken languages, which are Chewa,
Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Ndebele, Shangani,
Shona, sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda and Xhosa
- promotion
of public awareness of the Constitution.
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