It finally happens when he is very, very old…
President Robert Mugabe has signed Zimbabwe’s new constitution into law, clearing the path to crucial elections later this year.
A beaming Mugabe, flanked by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, his main political rival, and Deputy President Joice
Mujuru signed multiple copies of the charter on Wednesday at State House in the capital, Harare, to cheers and applause from aides.Approved overwhelmingly in a referendum in March this year, 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.
However, it does not apply retroactively so the 89-year-old Mugabe could technically extend his three decades in office by another 10 years.
If, however, Mugabe happens to find himself in reasonably good health and approaching the remarkable mark of a 100 years of existence, he will have to take out his pen again and make some more amendments to a constitution that in reality could only realize its value with his death.
