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Constitutional Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga confirmed the position, but refused to give a specific date when the document would be availed to the principals.
But Copac sources intimated that the draft might be submitted to the principals next week.
“We met last Tuesday as the management committee and went through the draft document with the drafters. The drafters have made available all the chapters for our review and we are meeting again on Monday,” said the source.
“We have agreed on all the issues and what we are doing right now is to polish and edit the document. The final draft will be made public when it is available.”
A Copac co-chairperson who refused to be named said they were proof-reading the final document following a break through at a retreat held in Nyanga recently.
“As you know, the management committee resolved that we should all speak through Minister Eric Matinenga, but I can tell you that there has been a lot of progress since then,” said the co-chair.
“We have agreed on almost all the outstanding issues. We have since advised the drafters to factor in all the changes we have made to the initial draft.
“We are now in the process of proof reading the final draft prepared by the drafters to see if they have not drifted from our agreed positions.
“All things being equal, we are expecting that the draft constitution may be submitted to the principals anytime next week.”The source said the parties have made some concessions on issues such as dual citizenship and devolution that have seen the process moving forward.
“There has been some movement on most of the sticky issues such as devolution and dual citizenship. It was agreed that complete devolution was not possible in a small country such as Zimbabwe,” said a source.
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“What will now happen is that there would be provincial leadership that will report to central government and governors in those provinces will now be appointed from elected members of Parliament.”
On dual citizenship, sources said it was agreed that every Zimbabwean citizen by birth should retain his or her citizenship even if that person acquires foreign citizenship.
The source refused to shed light on the issue of executive powers and the number of vice presidents, referring further questions to Minister Matinenga.
GPA principals had given Copac ultimatums to complete the process. But Copac has missed all the deadlines because of haggling among the parties involved.
Sadc last month urged parties in the inclusive Government to expedite the constitution-making process to pave way for general elections set for this year.
Online Reporter