Zanu-PF Politburo okays 97 percent of the Copac draft

The Zanu-PF Politburo has endorsed 97% of the content in the draft constitution while the remaining issues that the party has not agreed on will be referred back to the Copac Management Committee.

Politburo Member and Zanu-PF lead negotiator, Patrick Chinamasa told reporters that the party deliberated intensively on the contents of the draft constitution after realising the need to harmonise and re-align the draft with the people's views.

Chinamasa also expressed satisfaction with the discussions and revealed that 97% of the draft's contents were endorsed by the Politburo.

He said Zanu-PF is expected to come up with a final position and feedback for the Copac Management Committee by next Wednesday on the remaining 3% of the sticking issues.

"Concern was to see if the draft was in harmony with the people's views, the whole thrust is to try to re-align the draft with the people….," said Chinamasa.

Some of the sticking issues in the draft constitution that Zanu-PF wants redressed include:

- Lack of recognition in the draft that the country was born after a protracted liberation war,

- The appointment of provincial governors,

- Consultation of parliament in the deployment of security forces by the President,

- The splitting of the Attorney General's Office, and

- The question of whether Vice Presidents should be elected through elections or be appointed by the sitting President.