Mugabe could remain in power until 2010

HARARE--The Zimbabwean government has already drafted a constitutional amendment allowing President Robert Mugabe to extend his term in office by two years until 2010. This could be tabled in parliament for approval soon, sources have revealed.

Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa recently said the government was discussing synchronising parliamentary and presidential elections. The presidential elections are due in 2008 and the parliamentary elections in 2010.

Authoritative sources close to the department of legal drafting in the ministry of justice, legal and parliamentary affairs said the department had almost finalised a draft constitutional amendment, enabling the government to defer presidential elections to 2010.

Chinamasa had said the government was considering several options for synchronising the elections. One would be to elect a president in 2008 who would only serve two years until 2010, when a new presidential election would be held simultaneously with the scheduled parliamentary elections.