The long, tortuous road

MPs will debate the draft constitution for 30 days before either approving it or proposing amendments.

If approved, the draft will be sent to the Attorney-General for publication by May 2, after which the Interim Independent Electoral Commission would announce a referendum date, which should be 60 days later - July 2.

If Parliament proposes changes, the experts will have seven days to consider them. The MPs will then have seven days from April 10.

The experts, PSC and Reference Group, will meet to iron out issues causing the deadlock in Parliament. The draft will then be tabled on April 27 and MPs are required by law to approve it as presented.

It will then be forwarded to the AG for publication within 30 days (May 27), with a referendum coming two months later, which by the timeline in the Act should be July 27.

Whether the referendum comes on July 2 or 27, IIEC must announce the results in two days. The President has a two-week window to promulgate the new constitution.