Zimbabwe needs $100 million for the referendum but cannot raise $32 million for food

Zimbabwe, which has been battling to fund the Constitutional Select Committee tasked with drafting the country’s new constitution, will need $100 million for a referendum to get the people’s opinion on the constitution before it can hold fresh elections.

At the same time the country cannot afford to feed 164 000 households who require food assistance. It requires $32.4 million but will only contribute $18.7 million with the balance coming from donors.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti said the government would need an additional $180.1 million this year, including the $100 million for the referendum. The balance of the money would be broken down as follows: $35.2 million for student support; $30.9 million for international and regional community obligations and foreign travel; $7.2 million for support to security areas and $6.8 million for war veterans welfare.

The Constitutional Select Committee (COPAC) was supposed to complete its job more than a year ago but was bogged down by lack of cash. It is now expected to complete its job in October.

A referendum has to be held three months after COPAC completes its report but this is entirely up to the executive. Legal experts within COPAC say, however, the referendum is a mere formality, and therefore an unnecessary expense, because the new constitution is being drafted by the key political parties so everyone will be campaigning for a Yes vote.

People rejected the last draft constitution in 2000 but though it had been drafted by a constitutional commission it was opposed by the Movement for Democratic Change and the National Constitutional Assembly.

The NCA is likely to oppose the new constitution but it will have a tough fight on its plate as its main ally the MDC is now part of the constitution drafting team and its leader is the country’s Prime Minister.

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