Zimbabwe President Rober Mugabe Signs New Constitution - Wednesday May 22,2013

President Robert Mugabe has signed Zimbabwe's New Constitution into law

Robert Mugabe - flanked by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, his main political rival, and Deputy President Joice Mujuru - signed multiple copies of the charter on Wednesday May 22,2013 at State House in the capital, Harare, to cheers and applause from aides.

The constitution was unopposed through both houses of parliament.

Approved overwhelmingly in a Referendum in March 2013, the constitution clips the powers of the president, limits presidential tenures to two five-year terms and does away with the post of prime minister

Note

• Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai formed a power-sharing government four years ago to avoid a descent into full-scale conflict in the aftermath of a bloody presidential run-off election in 2008

• The power-sharing government faced frequent difficulties over the allocations of key government posts, the implementation of key reforms and over charges of violence

• The 5-year coalition parliament, formed under the same agreement, expires on June 29,2013 and parliamentary and presidential elections should follow within 90 days of that date

• The date for the elections is yet to be announced