From "Agence France Presse"
HARARE,Feb 15(AFP)-Zimbabwean voters have rejected a new constitution which
critics said would strengthen President Robert Mugabe's hold on power,
officials results showed Tuesday. A total of 697,754 people-54.6 percent-
voted against the constitution,while 578,210 voted in favour, the election
directorate announced.  The result is seen as a slap in the face for
Mugabe, who had campaigned hard for a "yes" vote.
 The draft constitution would have entrenched Mugabe's authority and
allowed the government to seize white-owned farms for redistribution to
blacks without paying compensation.  While the referendum was ostensibly
over the constitution, it has been widely seen as an opinion poll on the
government's performance ahead of par
liamentary elections in April. "It's a
resounding vote of no confidence not only in the constitution but in the
makers of it," said Brian Kagoro, a spokesman for the National
Constitutional Assembly(NCA),which spearheaded opposition to the draft.
The NCA, which groups civil society organisations, said the government-
appointed commission which drew up the constitution ignored the wishes of
the majority of people who made clear in a nationwide survey that they
wanted Mugabe's autocratic powers curbed. (End of annotated release)

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