Copac scandal: No Single Report in Parliament

HARARE - THE Constitutional Parliamentary Select Committee (Copac) has to date not made a single report to the Parliament Zimbabwe.

All parliamentary committees make reports in the August House on progress of what they are doing.

Ironically, no single member of parliament in Zimbabwe has questioned why the Select Committee has not made any report to the House.

COPAC is composed of 25 members of the 7th Parliament of Zimbabwe who were selected from the three political parties (MDC T, MDC and Zanu PF) to spearhead the crafting of a new Constitution. The 25 members are referred to as the Select Committee of Parliament on the new Constitution.

The Select Committee is led by three Co-chairpersons who were selected from each party, namely, Hon. Paul Mangwana from ZANU PF, Hon. Douglas Mwonzora from MDC T and Hon. Edward Mkhosi from MDC M.

Other members of the Committee are : Hon Flora Buka, Hon. Amos Chibaya, Hon. Walter Chidakwa, Hon.  Gift Chimanikire, Hon. Edward Chindori Chininga, Hon. David Coltart, Hon. Gladys Dube,  Hon. Joram Gumbo, Hon. Ian Kay, Hon. Martin Khumalo, Hon. Believe Gaule, Hon.  Jessie Majome, Hon. Cephas Makuyana, Hon. Chief Fortune Charumbira, Hon. Thokozile Mathuthu, Hon. Rorana Muchihwa, Hon. Editor Matamisa, Hon. Tambudzani Mohadi,  Hon. Olivia Muchena, Hon. Monica Mutsvangwa, Hon. Jabulani Ndlovu and Hon. Brian Tshuma.

The three Copac co-chairpersons could not be reached for comment at the time of publishing.

The constitution making process started in January 2010 with a stakeholder's conference which was followed by the outreach program on 24 June of the same year.

After the outreach, the heavily funded Copac did data capturing, and district qualitative and quantitative reports.

Copac is now working on District, Provincial and National Narrative Reports.

After this stage, the drafters will start work followed by the referendum, then elections in Zimbabwe.

"It is shocking that the whole nation is kept waiting for press reports on progress and or problems at Copac and a whole parliamentary select committee has not presented a single report to the House," complained a legislator who requested anonymity.

Another added: "The Select Committee fears that when they come to parliament they will be roasted because they have ate a lot of money doing nothing and having petty squabbles to prolong the process."