2000 Zimbabwean constitutional referendum

none May 2013 November 2022 1979 1979 Rhodesian constitutional referendum 2013 2013 Zimbabwean constitutional referendum 2000 02 12 2000 02 13 y Zimbabwe 578,210 697,754 36,774 A constitutional referendum was held in Zimbabwe on 12–13 February 2000. The proposed new constitution, which had been drafted by a Constitutional Convention the previous year, was rejected by voters. The rejection was unexpected and was taken as a personal rebuff for President Robert Mugabe and a political triumph for the newly formed opposition group, the Movement for Democratic Change. The new proposed constitution was notable for giving power to the government to seize farms owned by white farmers, without compensation, and transfer them to black farm owners as part of a scheme of land reform. The referendum was characterized by political violence.The Movement for Democratic Change Was Number One Enemy in 2000 2023 https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/election-violence-in-zimbabwe/movement-for-democratic-change-was-number-one-enemy-in-2000/2CB944ACBCDB63C2311FDAB85ACD8037 Election Violence in Zimbabwe: Human Rights, Politics and Power 128–158 Kwashirai Vimbai Chaumba Cambridge University Press 10.1017/9781108120265.008 978-1-107-19081-8 subscription Background The constitution of Zimbabwe had been drawn up as part of the Lancaster House Agreement of 1979 and had served the country for nearly 20 years. There was a widespread feeling in Zimbabwe that it was too heavily influenced by the country's colonial past, and that a new constitution written in the light of the experience of independence was desirable. Accordingly, on 21 May 1999, President Mugabe announced the convening of a Constitutional Convention to draft such a constitution fit for the country. The chairman of the commission was a senior judge, Godfrey Chidyausiku. 396 people were named to the convention, including all 150 members of the House of Assembly; some previous opponents of the government were included among the 246 other members, such as Professor Jonathan Moyo.Members of the commission (Web.archive.org) Over August and September the Convention held more than 5,000 meetings with local people and groups in Zimbabwe, with many seeing concerns voiced over granting of more powers to the executive Presidency. There had already arisen a community group called the National Constitutional Assembly (formed 1997) which convened a "People's Constitutional Convention" in Chitungwiza in June 1999.What is the NCA? https://web.archive.org/web/20061003095447/http://www.nca.org.zw/downloads/What_is%2520_the_NCA.rtf 3 October 2006 (National Constitutional Assembly) 4,000 attended this gathering."International: Your rights or ours?", The Economist, 26 June 1999, p. 54. The perceived success of this group was a critical part in the decision to form the Movement for Democratic Change. At the convention's final meeting on 29 November, Justice Chidyausiku announced that the proposed constitution had been adopted "by acclamation" and did not call for a vote. There was some dissent within the room, with dissenters arguing that the proposed constitution did not represent the opinions of Zimbabweans on issues such as presidential powers."Zimbabwe in uproar over constitution draft without a vote", Daily Mail, 1 December 1999, p. 38. Opponents argued that the Executive Presidency should be replaced with a Prime Minister accountable to Parliament,"Zimbabweans put no trust in referendum", Financial Times, 11 February 2000, p. 13. and a titular and not executive President. Constitutional proposals Proposed Constitution of Zimbabwe The proposed constitution incorporated a "Bill of Rights" based on that adopted in South Africa but with some rights restricted (for example, it included no pledge to equal treatment for homosexuals). It proposed to expand the House of Assembly to 200 members, with 50 of them to be elected under a proportional voting system, and to create a new 60 member Senate. It proposed to limit the President to two successive five-year terms, a restriction to begin after the constitution came in force. The executive President was to remain but be supplemented by a Prime Minister who would be head of government on a day-to-day basis. Opponents of the constitution criticised the legal immunities given to the State and to individuals holding office. One of the more controversial aspects of the constitution covered land reform. The draft presented by the commission was not that presented to the electorate for the referendum, but a revised version redrafted by the Cabinet. The proposed Bill of Rights declared that "before Independence the people of Zimbabwe were unjustifiably dispossessed of their land and other resources without compensation", and therefore included a clause allowing the Government to take possession of white-owned land with compensation to be paid by the United Kingdom. Should the United Kingdom not pay, the constitution declared that the "Government of Zimbabwe has no obligation to pay compensation". Administration Referendums in Zimbabwe are counted by House of Assembly constituency. The Delimitation Commission determining the boundaries of constituencies had not yet reported in time for the 2000 elections and so the constituencies used were those drawn up by the 1994 Delimitation Commission. For details of their boundaries, see 1994 Delimitation Commission Report (Cmd. RZ 2 1995). The voters' roll was reported to be in a poor state. A United Nations advisory team reported in December 1999 that up to a quarter of all the names were now dead, and a third of the names had since moved constituencies.Tony Hawkins, "Big-spender Mugabe drives Zimbabwe into debt trap", Financial Times, 20 January 2000, p. 10. The establishment of polling stations was delayed given the confusion, but the Registrar-General insisted on using the electoral roll rather than using other measures to prevent people from voting twice.Michael Dynes, "Zimbabwe heads for poll of confusion", The Times, 9 February 2000, p. 18. A last-minute attempt to delay the referendum was turned down by the High Court."Zimbabwe's constitution vote", The Independent, 11 February 2000, p. 16. Result 578210 697754 36774 African Elections Database By constituency ConstituencyForAgainstInvalid/blankVotes%Votes%BULAWAYO PROVINCEBulawayo North3,98124.812,09975.2194Bulawayo South4,29119.317,96180.7347Lobengula2,18123.47,15076.699Luveve2,02222.86,86077.2398Makokoba2,43324.17,68075.9182Mpopoma2,61922.49,05677.6115Nkulumane4,80726.113,61973.9214Pelandaba2,72125.77,86174.3187Pumula-Magwegwe2,68224.88,13675.2159HARARE PROVINCEBudiriro3,46721.212,90878.8240Chitungwiza East3,38229.87,95370.2488Chitungwiza West3,68329.18,99370.9413Dzivarasekwa4,57429.311,01670.7228Glen Norah4,15122.714,17577.3186Glen View2,89420.910,92079.1115Harare Central4,82122.216,88277.8191Harare East4,54820.417,72879.6395Harare North4,94224.715,03875.3394Harare South3,70326.410,30273.6145Hatfield4,73934.88,87365.2228Highfield3,94025.611,42974.4158Kambuzuma2,90722.310,12177.7154Kuwadzana3,97728.59,99771.5124Mbare East3,78728.19,69371.9187Mbare West3,02224.39,40575.7307Mufakose4,68026.113,25273.9244St. Mary's2,42926.76,67873.3155Tafara-Mabvuku4,27125.312,61674.7385Zengeza4,23231.59,19268.5135MANICALAND PROVINCEBuhera North4,01853.53,49446.5142Buhera South4,60955.33,72144.7167Chimanimani2,36638.43,80361.6229Chipinge North1,82826.45,10473.6190Chipinge South1,85931.14,11768.9157Makoni East2,91543.63,77856.4123Makoni North3,29764.11,84735.9170Makoni West3,03148.13,26852.9148Mutare Central3,12618.413,82181.6165Mutare North3,12122.810,59477.2854Mutare South2,45237.34,12062.7133Mutare West1,77143.02,34757.0109Mutasa1,86735.53,38964.5114Nyanga2,73338.44,38461.6197MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCEBindura5,43847.06,14153.0287Guruve North9,68579.62,47520.4182Guruve South9,82478.52,69021.5247Mazoe East8,11961.25,14738.8253Mazoe West5,39052.74,83047.3273Mount Darwin10,45880.52,53619.5377Muzarabani7,75877.82,21622.2246Rushinga11,59378.73,14621.3559Shamva10,52574.03,69626.0333MASHONALAND EAST PROVINCEChikomba4,20157.33,12742.7807Goromonzi3,90442.35,33157.71,803Marondera East6,86946.77,82753.3247Marondera West4,60360.43,01639.6143Mudzi9,39277.62,70522.4293Murewa North3,92564.52,16135.5107Murewa South4,00756.93,03743.1149Mutoko North5,04169.22,24530.8172Mutoko South7,03582.21,52517.862Seke3,69535.56,71864.5208Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe7,73375.82,47024.2192Wedza4,55262.12,78437.9195MASHONALAND WEST PROVINCEChegutu East4,16744.15,27655.9264Chegutu West5,19252.14,77547.9197Chinhoyi5,83143.17,68356.9264Hurungwe East5,55560.43,63539.6413Hurungwe West5,07369.72,20730.3980Kadoma Central4,41042.95,88157.1521Kadoma East4,67373.51,68826.5123Kadoma West5,44264.82,95335.2240Kariba5,16754.44,33545.6161Makonde6,24366.13,20433.9250Mhondoro3,79356.22,96243.8175Zvimba North7,14757.35,32742.7366Zvimba South12,55878.73,40221.3599MASVINGO PROVINCEBikita3,93953.03,49747.0600Chiredzi North5,14944.76,36955.3282Chiredzi South3,95359.92,64940.1150Chivi North3,40266.11,74833.9156Chivi South3,93961.52,46538.5157Gutu-Bikita3,16251.82,94048.2171Gutu North5,06257.23,79042.8254Gutu South3,96360.12,63139.9139Masvingo Central4,68237.67,77362.4209Masvingo North3,24847.53,59352.5690Masvingo South5,94770.52,49129.5189Mwenezi7,01772.22,70427.8496Zaka East3,38153.32,96346.7179Zaka West5,04355.54,04544.51,285MATABELELAND NORTH PROVINCEBinga2,60232.95,29667.1591Bubi-Umguza6,13655.34,95744.7341Hwange East3,30239.65,04660.4234Hwange West2,21324.66,77075.4168Lupane3,84461.52,40838.5154Nkayi3,75053.33,29146.7260Tsholotsho5,06659.43,45660.6179MATABELELAND SOUTH PROVINCEBeitbridge7,33766.13,76633.9813Bulilimamangwe North5,25964.72,86535.3229Bulilimamangwe South4,52051.54,26148.5220Gwanda5,86146.56,74753.5334Insiza3,11242.74,17657.3401Matobo3,80548.04,13052.0286Umzingwane3,71239.05,81461.0175MIDLANDS PROVINCEChirumanzu4,92163.02,89437.0276Gokwe Central9,13368.04,29632.0556Gokwe East5,07465.02,73135.0186Gokwe North6,46666.23,29833.8437Gokwe South6,11069.72,66030.3936Gweru Central4,25034.97,94565.1167Kwekwe Central4,77835.48,70264.6172Kwekwe North7,71863.04,52837.0306Kwekwe West4,82140.86,99459.21,148Mberengwa East8,40081.51,90618.5738Mberengwa West8,14975.72,61624.3313Mkoba4,19132.28,84267.8153Shurugwi6,78068.03,19132.0215Vungu3,49247.33,89052.7190Zvishavane7,90456.56,07943.5288 References External links Report of the Centre for Democracy and Development Observer Mission on the referendum (including results). Presidential speech announcing Constitutional convention (Web.archive.org) Draft constitutionJanuary 2025 medicmedic (Web.archive.org) Zimbabwe Constitutional Zimmabwe Category:Referendums in Zimbabwe Category:Constitutional referendums in Zimbabwe Category:Election and referendum articles with incomplete results