|
Back to Index
This article participates on the following special index pages:
New Constitution-making process - Index of articles
COPAC's list of constitutional principles - Constitution Watch
Veritas
February 22, 2012
COPAC
Releases List of Constitutional Principles
COPAC yesterday
released a document, signed by all three COPAC co-chairs, setting
out the 26 constitutional principles guiding the drafting
of the new constitution. This document is one of those produced
by the pre-drafting workshop held by COPAC in November 2011. The
full text is as follows:
List of Constitutional
Principles
The following
are the constitutional principles guiding the drafting of the new
constitution for Zimbabwe:
1. Supremacy
of the constitution
2. Recognition
of Zimbabwe’s liberation, democracy, sovereignty of the state
and its people
3. Recognition
of the principle of separation of powers
4. Recognition
of land and natural resources as belonging to all Zimbabweans
5. The constitution
should contain mechanisms of redressing colonial imbalances in the
distribution of natural resources including land
6. The new constitution
must ensure the maintenance of unity, in diversity, peace, stability,
security and prosperity for all the people of Zimbabwe
7. Recognition
of the rule of law, good governance and democracy
8. Recognition
that power to rule and govern must be derived from the authority
of the people
9. The recognition
of fundamental human rights
10. All organs
of the state to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights
and freedoms spelt out in the Bill of Rights
11. Recognition
of the principle of decentralisation
12. Recognition
of the principle of devolution of power
13. Recognition
of gender equality and gender mainstreaming in all spheres of governance
14. The recognition
of the rights of children, the youth, the disabled, women, workers
and vulnerable groups
15. The recognition
of universal adult suffrage
16. The recognition
of the importance of an electoral system that guarantees regular,
free and fair and effective elections that ensure adequate representation
of the electorate
17. Recognition
of the importance of Bill of Rights by entrenching it in the constitution
and its justiciability
18. Recognition
of the principle of checks and balances among the levels of government
and the Arms of the State
19. Recognition
of the need for equitable resource sharing mechanisms
20. Recognition
of the rights of racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, religious
and political minorities
21. That the
management of public finances should be informed by transparency,
responsiveness, accountability, responsibility, integrity and equity
22. All arms
of state must uphold the principles of democracy and good governance
23. Recognition
of the principle of constitutional transition and orderly transfer
of power
24. All Arms
of State must uphold the constitution, respect human rights, be
non-partisan and professional
25. The constitution
must recognise the diversity of languages, customary practices and
traditions and must seek to protect and promote these
26. The institution,
status and role of traditional leadership, according to indigenous
law, shall be spelt out and recognised in the constitution
Signed by Hon
MP Mangwana, Co-chair; Hon DT Mwonzora, Co-chair; Hon ET Mkhosi,
Co-chair
Veritas
makes every effort to ensure reliable information, but cannot take
legal responsibility for information supplied
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
