HARARE - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday signed into law the country’s long awaited constitution, paving the way for fresh elections.

The constitution that was approved overwhelmingly during a referendum in March, was endorsed by parliament early this month.

It curbs the president’s powers and introduces term limits for a head of state for the first time since Zimbabwe’s independence from Britain in 1980.

A government spokesperson said some of the provisions would immediately become law while others would be implemented after the country holds new elections.

The new charter was one of the conditions for a power sharing deal between President Mugabe and his rival, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, the Prime Minister.

Mr Tsvangirai and other members of the coalition government attended the signing ceremony at State House in Harare.

President Mugabe last month had threatened to dump the new constitution, accusing his rivals of trying to delay it’s passing to prevent him from calling for early elections.

The 89-year-old leader, who wants to run for another term in office, said he would not succumb to international pressure to delay the polls.

His rivals want him to implement a raft of media, security and electoral reforms before the polls that must be held this year.

However, the veteran ruler insists that the he would call for elections once the life of the current parliament expired on June 29 with or without the reforms.

Agencies