In separate interviews with The Zimbabwean, COPAC co-chairpersons, Douglas Mwonzora and Paul Munyaradzi Mangwana sharply differed on moves by President Mugabe to seize the draft charter from parliament.
"I represent the position of my party. The draft charter has always been in the hands of government principals, which means they are in control, they are in charge and they fund the processes, but I'm not aware if there could be MPs who are planning to revolt against the President for taking charge of the COPAC draft," said Mangwana.
But Mwonzora maintained the position of parliament's prerogative to handle the contested constitutional draft, saying it was a parliament driven process.
"The issue of the new constitutional draft charter is now a parliamentary process, where the Executive must play a minimum role. Mugabe's move to take charge of the draft charter cannot be tolerated," said Mwonzora.
He said legislators made their position clear against principals' involvement in the constitution making process.
"The MPs made their position clear in Victoria Falls that they will not accept usurpation of their powers by Mugabe and if he makes that move, legislators won't be amused by it," said Mwonzora.
At the Second All Stakeholders conference last month, President Mugabe took aim at Mwonzora and Mangwana, accusing the two of overzealousness in the way they handled the constitution making process, reminding them that as Principals, he (Mugabe) and other GNU partners were responsible for attending to outstanding hurdles facing the new constitutional charter.
Following his attempts to persuade PM Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara to aid him seize control of the constitution-making process, Mugabe's actions triggered a revolt within Copac by leaders of the two MDC formations angered by efforts to sabotage the process.
Ncube, still excluded from discussions on the constitution-making process despite a Sadc resolution to include him and not Mutambara, has been lobbying behind the scenes to form an alliance to oppose the original principals.
Ncube and his allies are arguing the constitution-making process cannot be taken over by government or cabinet like Mugabe wants because it is a parliamentary process under Article VI of the Global Political Agreement..
The article deals with the constitution-making process and mandates Copac to take charge of the process until it is debated in parliament and subjected to a referendum.
Mugabe has been trying to rope in Tsvangirai and Mutambara to assist him in his agenda.
Zanu PF changes were fiercely resisted at the stakeholders' conference last month.
Last month Eric Matinenga, Minister of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs resisted the principals' move to take charge of the final draft of the constitutional making process.
"I am sure the principals will meet to discuss, but I hope they do not meet to interfere with the process," he said.
"I sincerely hope when they do meet, it will be within the parameters of Article VI. We are simply saying we should adhere to the constitution – we have made rules and we must abide by those rules in letter and spirit."
However, an undeterred Mugabe has persisted that principals will have the final say in the constitution making process.
But on Monday this week, Jameson Timba, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office said the PM was of the view that the current constitution making process was a parliamentary driven process.
"The PM has stated his position on several occasions that the current constitution-making process is a parliamentary- driven process," said Timba.
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