HARARE – Zimbabwe’s constitutional committee said Tuesday it will push to have a referendum on a new constitution in early 2011 to pave way for adoption of the new charter before elections that President Robert Mugabe has said must take place by mid-next year.

The Constitution Select Committee (COPAC), which is running several months behind schedule on constitutional reforms, had previously said it would be able to hold a referendum by June 30 next year, raising fears Zimbabwe next polls could be held under the present and defective constitution.

But COPAC joint chairman Douglas Mwonzora told journalists in Harare that the committee was next weekend resuming public hearings on the new charter abandoned in the capital last month because of political violence and that it would move to complete the reform process in the first quarter of next year.

“It is possible to have the referendum during the first quarter of 2011 but it all depends on the government making the necessary funds available,” said Mwonzora.

“We can meet that deadline and indications are that the referendum should be earlier than we had anticipated,” added Mwonzora, who represents Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party on the multi-party management committee of the COPAC.

Zimbabwe is writing a new constitution as part of reforms agreed by Mugabe and Tsvangirai to entrench democracy and ensure the next elections are free and fair.

But an exercise to gather public views to be put in the proposed constitution has been marred by reports of violence and widespread intimidation blamed on Mugabe’s supporters wanting to pressure Zimbabweans to endorse a new constitution that will not bar the 86-year old President from standing for re-election, while banning the post of prime minister.

Public hearings had to be called off in Harare and the nearby dormitory town of Chitungwiza after violence broke out during meetings more than two weeks ago, leaving at least one person dead and scores of others injured.

Mwonzora said public meetings will resume in Harare on October 30 and 31, adding that political parties will be urged to ensure supporters desist from violence and intimidation.

He said: “The political parties will publicly…. in a document signed by their secretaries general, denounce violence, intimidation, racism and other malpractices during the outreach programme and implore their supporters to desist from these activities.”

Mwonzora also called on the police to ensure peace and security during the public meetings.

Zimbabweans hope a new constitution will guarantee human rights, strengthen the role of Parliament and curtail the president's powers, as well as guaranteeing civil, political and media freedoms.

By Zimonline