Opposing political parties joined hands in Zimbabwe as a new bill amending the constitution was passed on September 20, 2007. All of the present 111 representatives voted in favor of the bill which, will allow presidential and parliamentary elections to be held simultaneously in 2008 [1]. Once accepted by the Senate and signed into law by President Robert Mugabe, the bill will also allow the parliament to appoint a new president in case the 83-year-old Mugabe dies in office or resigns before full term. Additionally, the bill enlarges both houses of parliament; the House of Assembly will grow from current 150 seats to 210 seats, and the Senate from 66 to 93 [2].

This recent and rare cooperation between Zanu-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the leading political parties, may have been a step toward better dialogue between the government and the opposition; however, the compromise was quickly sentenced to be 'treachery' [3]. The judgment came from the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), a prominent lobbying group pushing for an entirely new constitution. According to the NCA, the main purpose of the new bill is for President Mugabe to handpick his successor without having to hold elections. The NCA further noted that the parliament has now been enlarged beyond the capacity of the country and its deteriorating economy [4]. Rashweat Mukundu, the director of the Zimbabwean branch of the Media Institute of Southern Africa, agreed with the NCA that the passing of the bill is Mugabe’s ticket to a “graceful exit from power” [5].

A few individuals voiced out some support for the new constitutional bill. Peter Biles, a BBC reporter in Johannesburg, said there is “a new spirit of consensus between the MDC and the government”. While the opposition is still looking to draw a completely new constitution, this particular bill serves as a step forward in the mediation process [6].

The IIJD finds the new constitution bill questionable. As the bill seeks to establish simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections for the year 2008, there is doubt that a country facing such harsh economic obstacles as Zimbabwe will be able to logistically organize two major elections in one day. The IIJD cannot support elections unless they are free, fair, and legitimate. In a country where the president appoints the electoral commission that oversees elections, and holds executive power over the state, courts, armed forces, and media, this is hardly the case [7]. While the amendment will make some undeniably convenient changes (from Zanu-PF’s point of view) to the constitution, it fails to address the aforementioned issues. In addition, the amendment will not grant Zimbabweans in the Diaspora the right to vote in national elections.  

The repressive political environment and the systematic barriers to securing civil and political rights imposed by the government paralyze the ingenuity of the Zimbabwean citizens. The absence of a clear separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the government, and the lack of accountability, transparency, and discipline within the government, are obvious signs of the failure to achieve genuine democratic rule and good governance. Because there is no real separation of powers, there are no checks and balances to challenge the government and other power structures to manage Zimbabwe’s rich resources well.

Meanwhile, conditions in Zimbabwe continue to worsen as the country fights an official inflation of more than 7,600 percent, the highest in the world. While some unofficial estimates place current inflation as high as 25,000 percent, the most recent forecast issued by the International Monetary Fund,   predicts the numbers will rise to 100,000 percent by the end of December [8]. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization is excepting one third of the population to be in need of  food assistance by early 2008 [9].

[1] All Africa.com:  "Zimbabwe:  Constitution Bill Passed"

[2] Association of Zimbabwe Journalists:  "Amendment 18-The Great Betrayal"

[3] Monsters and Critics:  "Zimbabwe opposition defends support of constitutional amednment"

[4] Association of Zimbabwe Journalists: "Amendment 18-The Great Betrayal"

[5] Monsters and Critics:  "Zimbabwe opposition defends support of constitutional amednment"

[6] BBC: "Zimbabwe passes 2008 election law"

[7] Association of Zimbabwe Journalists: "Amendment 18-The Great Betrayal"

[8] CNN: "Pets being slaughtered in meat-starved Zimbabwe"

[9] ABC News: "Food warning issued for Zimbabwe"