Staff Reporter
THE Parliamentary Constitution Select Committee (COPAC) is clueless on how to fund its US$8,2 million supplementary budget after its major funding agent — the United Nations Development Programme — this week said it will not avail additional funding for the exercise.
COPAC, which is driving the chaotic outreach programme to gather people’s views into the new constitution has been left in the open and is now extending a begging bowl to well-wishers.
COPAC co-chairpersons, Do-uglas Mwonzora and Paul Mangwana were at pains yesterday to explain how the committee would raise the additional money needed to complete the programme.
“Donors refused to fund the supplementary budget because their funding was divided into the first, second, third and fourth quarters and they are saying they can not give additional funds,” Mwonzora told journalists at the COPAC offices in Harare.
“I appeal to the people of Zimbabwe to be patient, I appeal to business to invest in this process because a good constitution is beneficial to them because it will attract investments into their businesses.”
Mangwana believes salvation for the outreach could come from the East.
He said: “We appeal to countries like China, Russia, Iran, Libya… and the government in general to assist us with what they can. We need to complete this exercise and the government must chip in.”
COPAC has been left with no option but to slash the number of days involved in the outreach from 25 to about 15.
Each of the outreach teams would now be required to conduct at least two meetings each day as part of the cost-cutting measures.
The outreach programme has been marred by incidences of people being coached on what to say during contributions.
After the exercise, COPAC will begin the drafting phase where views will be condensed into a single document.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is expected to conduct a referendum early next year on the draft constitution.
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