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The call comes in the wake of President Mugabe’s Independence Day speech on Wednesday where he bemoaned the time taken by Copac to complete the Constitution-making process.
The President said the principals were worried with the delay and were demanding that the draft be delivered to them so that the country holds a referendum.
However, one of the management committee members, Cde Patrick Chinamasa (Zanu-PF), yesterday dismissed the claims saying they were waiting for a draft Constitution from Copac.
He said devolution of power was the only outstanding issue the management committee was seized with.
“I am out of the country at the moment, but they are all lying. We told them to present to us the draft of what they have agreed on but to date we have seen nothing.
“The area of dispute is narrow and there is only one issue, devolution, to be resolved and this alone cannot hold up everything. The truth is that they don’t have a draft.
“As far as the management committee is concerned, the issue of citizenship is a concluded matter and that is the reason why we are saying there is no issue worthy a management meeting and stalling the whole process.”
Other members of the management committee are: Cde Nicholas Goche (Zanu-PF), Mr Tendai Biti and Mr Elton Mangoma (MDC-T), Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga and Mr Moses Mzila Ndlovu (MDC).
Copac co-chairperson Mr Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana (Zanu-PF), yesterday said they were waiting for the management committee to agree on the outstanding issues.
He said the Constitution-making process will not proceed without the incorporation of those outstanding issues.
“What is stopping us from proceeding is those parked issues with the management committee. We do not know whether they have agreed on the contested issues or not,” he said.
“As for our part, the drafters have consolidated the final draft and it takes a day to recheck whether they (drafters) acted according to our instructions.
“It is only after the management committee finds common ground that the process can move forward.”
He said leaders of the three main political parties had powers to pressure the negotiators to speed up the process.
“We don’t have the powers to tell them what to do because we also work under their instruction. It is those nearer to them who can pressure them. We are only waiting for an instruction from them,” he said.
Copac claims the management committee is still to agree on devolution and dual citizenship, among other issues.
Copac co-chairperson Mr Edward Mkhosi said Copac had no power to influence the operations of the management committee.
“There is no communication at the moment from them (management committee),” he said.
“It is only after the principals exert pressure on them that they can speed up the process. We have no power over them and by their quietness, we just presume they have explained their position to the principals.”
Last month, President Mugabe indicated that elections will be held this year with or without a new Constitution.
The writing of the new Constitution, started three years ago but has been stalled on several occasions because of disagreements among political parties driving the process.
Observers have accused Copac of turning the process into a money-spinning programme.
Online Reporter