Copac data disappears

Copac co-chairperson Cde Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana yesterday briefed the Zanu-PF Politburo on the issue.

Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo said the party was disturbed by the development.

“Cde Paul Mangwana briefed us (the Politburo) on what has happened. The up-loading and analysis is going well, but they (Copac) have gone into a technical hitch where some information that was supposed to be on the server, particularly on the land issue, was not there.

“There were just questions (posed to citizens) and no answers. A computer expert could have tampered with the computer,” he said.

Added Cde Gumbo: “They will overcome the problem, but it was a hitch which as a party we are concerned about . . . why was the issue of land not there? We think there was a game.”

He was, however, optimistic that the constitution-making process would be completed before June. Cde Mangwana said uploading of data gathered during the outreach had gone ve-ry well until they discovered that “the ser-ver had omitted all information on the land, natural resources and the environment”.

“It could have been just a technical error in the wrong place.

“The server is designed in such a manner that when you put in some data, you cannot edit it.

“I suspect that a person with mischief may not have been happy with responses on the land issue. Someone wanted to tamper with the information banking on the probability that we were not going to cross-check,” Cde Mangwana said.

The server is kept under 24-hour guard at the hotel, but Cde Mangwana said technology nowadays was so advanced that one could manipulate systems without necessarily being physically near the computer.

He said the lost information would be retrieved from the original documents.

“The United Nations Development Programme has secured an expert from the suppliers of the technology (Hewlett-Packard) and he is expected in the country between now and Tuesday next week,” he said.

The UNDP has played a central role in funding the constitution-making process.

During the outreach, there were reports of MDC-T personnel trying to sidestep citizens’ contributions on land. Zanu-PF and MDC-T have often clashed on the land reforms, with the latter accused of trying to protect the white minority’s interests at the black majority’s expense.

The Fast-Track Land Reform Progra-mme, which started in 2000, has seen nearly 300 000 black families benefiting from a resource once held by just 6 000 white commercial farmers.

Apart from constitution-making, Zanu-PF’s Politburo also deliberated on elections, the anti-sanctions campaign, indigenisation, party restructuring and mobilisation of the people before national polls. Cde Gumbo said Zanu-PF was mobilising a minimum of two million people all over Zimbabwe to sign a petition and demonstrate against the illegal and discredited Western embargo.

Following President Mugabe’s suggestion, and the party’s subsequent approval during the National People’s Conference last year, that Zimbabwe retaliates against companies from countries that had impo-sed sanctions, the Politburo had made a determination.

“A decision has been made by the party and we will take appropriate action. We have done our research and we know the companies that are involved,” Cde Gumbo said.

He did not specify what action exactly will be taken but indications are that these firms could soon be indigenised. Cde Gumbo said the Politburo had made it clear that 2011 was a year to empower indigenous people.

“We want to make sure that 2011 is a year we distribute the wealth of our nation equitably,” he said.

Cde Gumbo said Zanu-PF was geared and ready for elections this year.

“The political commissar (Cde Webster Shamu) gave a report which indicated that it is important that the party continues supporting sitting MPs.

“The party felt that it is not right to start electioneering now.”

Election dates are yet to be announced. The Politburo warned non-government organisations that violate their mandate that they “would be dealt with severely”. This was the first Politburo meeting for Cde Jonathan Moyo and Cde George Rutanhire, who were elevated to the body at the Mutare People’s Conference. The Mbare Chimurenga Choir entertained Politburo members with their popular revolutionary songs before the meeting started.-The Herald