News / National
Ncube led MDC should know 'COPAC is not partisan' says Mangwana
04 Mar 2013 at 20:31hrs | Views
COPAC co-Chairpersons from Zanu PF and MDC-T have dismissed the withdrawal from the COPAC draft constitution awareness campaigns by the Professor Welshman Ncube led formation, saying the withdrawal will not derail the nationwide campaign and subsequent referendum.
The Ncube-led MDC has pulled out of the COPAC awareness campaigns, allegedly in protest against being confined to two out of the country's 10 administrative provinces.
COPAC co-Chairperson, Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana however said the reason given by the MDC is invalid as the campaigns are being held by Members of Parliament (MPs) and according to party representation in the select committee.
Professor Ncube's MDC formation has only two MPs that is why it is confined to two provinces.
"We are taking two MPs to each province and the Ncube formation has two MPs in COPAC. They should remember that COPAC is not partisan, so there is nothing we can do as they are represented by the two, who we could not distribute to 10 provinces," said Mangwana
MDC-T COPAC co-Chairperson, Douglas Mwonzora said the Ncube led formation's claims are baseless as what they are requesting is tantamount to expanding COPAC which is impossible.
"They are asking for COPAC to be expanded and that is outside our mandate. It is surprising that after four years, they now have a problem. We are at the stage of no return, so their withdrawal is inconsequential," Mr Mwonzora said.
Meanwhile, the select committee, which has only four days to carry out the awareness campaigns says it is left with three districts and has covered 70% of the provinces.
The co-Chairpersons also said the distribution of braille and vernacular language draft copies has been going on well.
COPAC has also printed 30 000 long version and 50 000 summarised copies of the draft constitution for distribution, citing high demand and interest from the people.
The Ncube-led MDC has pulled out of the COPAC awareness campaigns, allegedly in protest against being confined to two out of the country's 10 administrative provinces.
COPAC co-Chairperson, Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana however said the reason given by the MDC is invalid as the campaigns are being held by Members of Parliament (MPs) and according to party representation in the select committee.
Professor Ncube's MDC formation has only two MPs that is why it is confined to two provinces.
"We are taking two MPs to each province and the Ncube formation has two MPs in COPAC. They should remember that COPAC is not partisan, so there is nothing we can do as they are represented by the two, who we could not distribute to 10 provinces," said Mangwana
MDC-T COPAC co-Chairperson, Douglas Mwonzora said the Ncube led formation's claims are baseless as what they are requesting is tantamount to expanding COPAC which is impossible.
"They are asking for COPAC to be expanded and that is outside our mandate. It is surprising that after four years, they now have a problem. We are at the stage of no return, so their withdrawal is inconsequential," Mr Mwonzora said.
Meanwhile, the select committee, which has only four days to carry out the awareness campaigns says it is left with three districts and has covered 70% of the provinces.
The co-Chairpersons also said the distribution of braille and vernacular language draft copies has been going on well.
COPAC has also printed 30 000 long version and 50 000 summarised copies of the draft constitution for distribution, citing high demand and interest from the people.
Source - zbc
