HARARE - Zimbabwe could have a referendum in November this year if the programme set by the drivers of the new constitution goes according to schedule.

According to the Parliamentary Select Committee work plan, a few administrative issues need to be cleared before the outreach starts on April 10.

This follows the signing of a project document between Government and the United Nations Development Programme on funding for the programme.

The UNDP has said it will help mobilise over US$20 million for constitution-making.

In an interview yesterday, Select Committee co-chairperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora said: "According to our plans, we are going to have a second all-stakeholders conference between August 24 and 27 where we are going to come up with a final report that will be used for the referendum.

"The referendum is scheduled to be conducted between November and October but these dates are still subject to revision."

The first phase of the outreach should end by May 14 but before that 210 rapporteurs will be trained on March 24 and 25.

The purpose of the outreach programme is to gather public views on what citizens want included in the new constitution.

"We will have a week-long break from May 15 to 21 to allow thematic committees to report back on the progress they would have made," he said.

Mr Mwonzora said thematic committees would compile bi-weekly reports for Select Committee representatives at provincial level.

The second and final phase of the outreach programme will be from May 22 to June 26.

After completion of the outreach, the Select Committee will review the data gathered and come up with a draft constitution.

A final report that would determine the course of any referendum is expected between July 15 and 24.

Mr Mwonzora said they got assurances from both Government and the UNDP that funding would be sought to ensure the programme was completed without further delays.

It is believed that most donors are not willing to loosen their purse strings after failing to influence talking points that would be used to gather public views.

On Thursday, President Mugabe said harmonised elections would be held regardless of the outcome of the constitution-making process because the inclusive Government’s two-year lifespan would expire in February next year.

He, however, pointed out that the three principals to the GPA might sit down to determine a way forward in the absence of finality on the constitution-making process.

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