ZIMBABWE’S new draft constitution will be delivered to the ruling coalition leaders within days, a parliamentary committee in charge of the process said on Wednesday.

The draft constitution – in the works since 2009 at a cost of more than US$50 million – has been held up by disagreements between President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party and the two MDC factions led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Welshman N cube.

But on Wednesday, Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga said there had been a major breakthrough, clearing the way for the final draft to be delivered to the three leaders – the first of three steps before the draft can become the country’s constitution.

Matinenga said: “We are meeting today as the management committee to polish the document. Everything has been agreed on and it is safe for me to say the principals should expect the document anytime from now.

“We understand that Zimbabweans have waited patiently but we are now almost there because we are moving in the same direction.”

Sources close to the drafting process said the draft was being proof read and could be delivered to Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Ncube as early as Saturday.

The parties, sources said, had finally found a compromise on contested issues including devolution, dual citizenship and capital punishment.

The new constitution is a pre-condition set by the coalition parties to any new elections which are now expected to be called in March next year.