Zimbabwe constitution passes hurdle

A draft constitutional amendment critics say further consolidates the ruling party’s power passed a hurdle in parliament today, but Zimbabwe’s main opposition spoke of progress elsewhere toward easing Zimbabwe’s political and economic crisis.

In a preliminary step today, the amendment was cleared for a vote before parliament, controlled by President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party, according to Nelson Chamisa, spokesman for the main opposition faction led by Morgan Tsvangirai.