Copac comes under fire from parties outside GPA

A GROUP of eight small opposition political parties have petitioned Copac, protesting against their exclusion in the drafting of a new Constitution.

The parties, under the banner of Political Parties Outside Government, have questioned the prudence by Copac to exclude them in the drafting stage, which they feel is critical. They said this was despite the fact that they participated in all the previous processes.

But Copac co-chairperson, Munyaradzi Mangwana, dismissed the claims, saying the stage at which they were was for technical and professional people.

"These political parties should not demand more than what they are worth," he said.

"We can't write a Constitution in a football arena where everyone participates. Let's allow professionals to do their job and these parties should not overate themselves in terms of their worthiness."

Mangwana said the most critical stage for the Constitution making process was the gathering of views, in which the aggrieved political parties participated. The eight political parties are: African National Party, led by Egypt Dzinemunenzva, Zanu (Ndonga), Multi-racial Christian Democrats, Patriotic Union of Matabeleland, United People's Party, Voice of the People, Zapu and Zapu FP.

"From the beginning (outreach) until the very last stages (compilation of the thematic committee data) we have been together," the political parties said in their petition.

They proposed that there be an observer group to follow the stages of Constitution writing. Copac, said the political parties, had not yet responded to the proposals, which they felt justified their participation.

"On our part, we still stand by these propositions. We still believe and maintain that the remaining stages of the compilation of the new Constitution should not be closed off to other players.

"For if they are, that fuels genuine suspicion and militates against the spirit of inclusivity, transparency and the participatory nature of the exercise."