Southern Rhodesia Act 1979 (c. 52)

(1) Her Majesty may by Order in Council provide a constitution for Zimbabwe to come into effect on the day (in this Act referred to as “ the appointed day ”) on which, in accordance with such provision in that behalf as may after the passing of this Act be made by Act of Parliament, Southern Rhodesia becomes independent as a Republic under the name of Zimbabwe. (2) Her Majesty may by Order in Council revoke the Constitution of Southern Rhodesia 1961, and may make such transitional provision as appears to Her Majesty to be necessary or expedient in connection with the coming into effect of the new constitution or the revocation of the said Constitution of 1961. (3) Any Order in Council under this section shall be laid before Parliament after being made. (4) Subsection (1) is without prejudice to any power conferred on Her Majesty by section 2.

(1) For the purpose of enabling the new constitution to function as from the appointed day and, in particular, of enabling elections for the purposes thereof to be held before that day, Her Majesty may by Order in Council make such provision as appears to Her to be necessary or expedient, including provision for bringing particular provisions of that constitution into force, with or without modifications, before that day. (2) Different provisions of the new constitution may be brought into force under this section at different times before the appointed day; but any modifications to which any provisions of that constitution are by virtue of this section subject immediately before the appointed day shall cease to have effect on that day. (3) An Order in Council under this section shall be laid before Parliament after being made and shall expire at the end of the period of twenty-eight days beginning with the day on which it was made unless during that period it is approved by resolution of each House of Parliament. The expiration of an Order in pursuance of this subsection shall not affect the operation of the Order as respects things previously done or omitted to be done or the power to make a new Order; and in calculating the period aforesaid no account shall be taken of any time during which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued or during which both Houses are adjourned for more than four days.