ZANU(PF) had rewritten the draft constitution which before the conference was held had said it was going to bring it.
There were fears that the ZANU(PF) was going to disrupt the second all stakeholders conference as what happened in July 2009 when the first all stakeholders conference was held.
But this did not happen after President Robert Mugabe Monday discouraged violence and called for the adoption of the draft constitution by stakeholders attending the conference for the sake of progress.
“Delegates at the conference brought few changes which want effected. At the moment we have identified on major amendment in the area of youths. Delegates want them to be put in the Bill of Rights. We observed that we had omitted that area,”MDC-T COPAC Co-chairperson Douglas Mwonzora told The Zimbabwean at the end of the two day conference in Harare Tuesday.
Officially opening the COPAC conference Monday in Harare President Robert Mugabe said the executive has the ultimate power to effect changes on the draft constitution, a statement which Mwonzora dismissed.
“The problem we have always been having with President Robert Mugabe is at what stage should the executive take over the process. We cannot have the Principals involved in organising an all stakeholder’s conference. The Principals not lead the drafting of the constitution. But at later stages when the constitution goes to cabinet, then of course they have to deal with it at that level,”Mwonzora said,“We are against with Principals dealing with everything every time. This country has separation of powers that is why there is the executive, the judiciary and the legislature and that separation of power has to be respected”.
According to COPAC they are now compiling a report which they will submit to the Principals before the draft is tabled before parliament for debate.
If it sails through parliament then goes for a referendum which where the public will be given chance to vote for or against it.
It is then that the country will know the dates for the holding of elections.
Post published in: News