COPAC’s secretariat and select committee had last week decided to reduce the number of participants from 2,400 to 2,000, allegedly due to budgetary constraints. Each of the three parties was to send 600 delegates, with legislators making up the remaining 200 slots. Because of this it had been decided to exclude any representation from civic society.
But according to a coalition of more than 10 civic society groups that met with COPAC co-chairperson Douglas Mwonzora on Monday, COPAC has now revisited the issue of delegates, among other critical issues regarding the new draft charter.
Thabani Nyoni, spokesperson for the Crisis Coalition, said COPAC reviewed its position and resolved to scale the number of delegates down to 1,100. There would now be 246 delegates from the political parties, 284 from Parliament and 571 from civil society.
“Civic society had threatened to boycott that Conference if we were not recognized as independent entities and the voice of the people. Fortunately COPAC decided to treat the civic groups as stakeholders and we came up with a clear framework for our participation,” Nyoni explained.
Nyoni said it is also important that COPAC decided to use only their draft at the Stakeholders Conference, without discussing amendments made by ZANU PF. But there is still concern that some ZANU PF elements will try to violently disrupt the event or find a way to include the amendments they want.
“It is worrying why ZANU PF has all of a sudden agreed to use the COPAC draft. There is concern they might a way to mobilize enough support for their amendments. We are aware of that and are prepared to resist any such attempt,” Nyoni said.
He added that COPAC also decided to allow diplomats, local and international media, the judiciary and other interested stakeholders to observe the process. This has eased fears of a violent disruption. – SW Radio Africa News
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