Constitution of Zimbabwe (2013)

The 2013 charter produced by the power sharing government, adding presidential term limits and an expanded bill of rights.

Overview

After the disputed 2008 elections, the Global Political Agreement between Robert Mugabes ZANU PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change committed both sides to write a new constitution. A parliamentary committee led the drafting, and voters approved the text overwhelmingly in a March 2013 referendum, replacing the Lancaster House constitution of 1979. It limits presidents to two five year terms, though not retroactively, creates a Constitutional Court, provides for devolution to provinces, and contains a far broader declaration of rights. Critics argue that subsequent amendments and uneven implementation have weakened several of its checks on executive power.