Professor Jonathan Moyo exposes Copac 'mafia elements'

Tsholotsho North legislator and Zanu-PF politburo member Professor Jonathan Moyo has continued to expose the the Constitutional Select Committee (Copac) stuffed with 'mafia elements' ahead of a parliamentary hearing into his incessant outbursts to discredit the process.

Prof Moyo revealed that Copac has become a threat to Zimbabwe's sovereign existence and its independence. He alleges that critical voices have been routinely labelled as laymen and should not be listened to.

"The mafia-like interests in Copac have become a threat to our independence and to the sovereign existence of our 32-year-old country because they have sought to claim to be making the most democratic constitution imaginable, while in the process defying everything that is democratic, legal and people-driven," Moyo said at the weekend.

"Critical voices have been routinely labelled as laymen who should not be listened to as if the Copac mafia is unaware of the fact that the overwhelming majority of its own members are not lawyers."

"Just last week Copac co-chairs publicly labelled their critics "crazy" and one of them even used national television last Thursday to call critics "evil people"," he said, adding the people's views have not been officially published "to enable the Copac mafia to ignore or manipulate them".

Professor Moyo not only accused Copac of smuggling about 70 percent of its draft content from outside, but also falling short on three fundamental issues, including the fact that it had no real parliamentary powers or clout to fall back on.

"Parliament's presiding officers have had no role whatsoever in Copac. Parliament and its committees are transparent and accountable to Parliament, and they debate and vote on issues in terms of standing orders and rules.

"There's no parliamentary process, which is opaque, secretive and conducted as negotiations based on consensus," the ex-University of Zimbabwe lecturer said.

"Who smuggled this content? Smuggling is mafia business and 70 percent is a very high figure and both considerations justify the conclusion that there's a Copac mafia that uses the false cover of a people-driven process to smuggle into the draft constitution, its own or some dark views typical of mafia-like behaviour," he thundered.

Furthermore: "While it is clear that Copac is not parliamentary... not people-driven, it is also clear that it has no other legal foundation or basis in that it is not based on any law governing its operations."

"In de facto terms, it has become a political GPA process not governed or protected by any Parliamentary ordinance and not governed or protected by any law of the land given that Article VI of the GPA, which sets out the constitution-making process is not a legal part of Constitutional Amendment Number 19," Moyo added.

Copac structures, including its management committee, negotiating forum and principals, were not only illegal, but just political.

Significantly, Moyo observed that Copac delays, tardiness and lack of accountability had been caused by the fact the constitution-making body was a political animal.

"This is why Copac has not met the deadline to complete its work within 18 months of its formation. This is why the Copac mafia has publicly and arrogantly defied deadlines given to it by the principals to complete its work.

"This is why Copac has been involved in endless negotiations in which anything goes," he said.

Copac officials, including Douglas Mwonzora, maintain that Moyo was in contempt of Parliament charge and had gone "beyond fair criticism."