News / National
Copac hands Zim Legislators draft constitution
26 Jul 2012 at 10:53hrs | Views
The Constitution Select Committee (Copac) has handed over the draft constitution to legislators from across the political divide at a joint caucus held in Harare.
Copac this Thursday then presented the draft constitution to legislators who are expected to study it so that they make inputs from an informed point of view.
Zanu PF chief whip, Dr Joram Gumbo said the select committee was an organ of parliament hence it was prudent for the legislators to be given the copy of the draft constitution before it was presented to other stakeholders in preparation for the referendum.
"Copac was a committee of parliament and as such it is important for the legislators to fully understand the contents of the new constitution. They have to understand it fully so that if it is eventually brought to the house for debate we will have meaningful contributions," said Dr Gumbo.
He said it is important that the legislators speak from an informed view as they too will be representing the views of the electorate from their respective constituencies.
Copac co-chairperson Douglas Mwonzora paid tribute to the legislature for supporting the COPAC team during the constitution making process which was riddled with many challenges.
"We had a difficult period in writing this constitution and as such we would like to applaud legislators for their support," said Mr Mwonzora.
After three years Copac has finally been able to produce the draft constitution which is expected to go for a referendum and if accepted by the majority of Zimbabweans will now be debated in parliament before adoption.
According to recent reports Copac has outstretched its initial US$21 million budget for the new constitution as it turned out that the whole process gobbled US$45 million.
Copac now requires nearly US$4 million to conclude the outstanding processes.
Copac this Thursday then presented the draft constitution to legislators who are expected to study it so that they make inputs from an informed point of view.
Zanu PF chief whip, Dr Joram Gumbo said the select committee was an organ of parliament hence it was prudent for the legislators to be given the copy of the draft constitution before it was presented to other stakeholders in preparation for the referendum.
"Copac was a committee of parliament and as such it is important for the legislators to fully understand the contents of the new constitution. They have to understand it fully so that if it is eventually brought to the house for debate we will have meaningful contributions," said Dr Gumbo.
He said it is important that the legislators speak from an informed view as they too will be representing the views of the electorate from their respective constituencies.
"We had a difficult period in writing this constitution and as such we would like to applaud legislators for their support," said Mr Mwonzora.
After three years Copac has finally been able to produce the draft constitution which is expected to go for a referendum and if accepted by the majority of Zimbabweans will now be debated in parliament before adoption.
According to recent reports Copac has outstretched its initial US$21 million budget for the new constitution as it turned out that the whole process gobbled US$45 million.
Copac now requires nearly US$4 million to conclude the outstanding processes.
Source - zbc
