adminIt is reportedly that Copac had enlisted the services of the UNDP senior technical advisor Dr Hassen Ebrahim to draft the Constitution.
The move contradicts Article 6 of the Global Political Agreement, which states that it is the fundamental right and duty of the Zimbabwean people to make a Constitution by themselves for themselves.
Sources close to the developments confided to The Herald that Dr Ebrahim was the technocrat behind most of the outrageous clauses factored by drafters in the initial draft constitution.
Dr Ebrahim is a South African national who is also serving as the African National Congress lawyer.
ANC leader and SA President Jacob Zuma is the facilitator to Zimbabwe’s interparty dialogue.
Copac co-chairpersons yesterday confirmed that they are working with Dr Ebrahim as advisor to the Select Committee.
They said Dr Ebrahim was seconded to Copac under an agreement reached by Government and the UNDP.
They however denied his input was included in the crafting of Zimbabwe’s new supreme law.
Copac co-chair Mr Douglas Mwonzora said: “We have been very true to the wishes of the people. Dr Ebrahim is a constitutional expert who has been recruited as part of the technical advisors under an agreement signed between Government and the UNDP.
“He has been giving advice to the Select Committee and not to the drafters. At no point did he (Dr Ebrahim) interact with the drafters.”
Mr Mwonzora said Copac interviewed Dr Ebrahim and his knowledge and expertise impressed all parties in the inclusive Government.
He said Dr Ebrahim was involved in the crafting of the South African constitution and such expertise was required in the ongoing process.
Mr Mwonzora defended Dr Ebrahim saying it was improper for people to complain about his involvement in Copac at this stage.
“Dr Ebrahim has not added any word to the draft constitution as he only gave technical advice as asked for by the Select Committee.
“For people to start complaining now about seven months down the line is dishonest at its worst,” he said.
Another Copac co-chair Mr Edward Mkhosi said Dr Ebrahim was assisting them with technical support since he was an expert in constitutional issues.
“He (Dr Ebrahim) was recommended to us by UNDP as you know that we are working together. He is assisting by giving us comparatives on what went on in South Africa,” he said.
Mr Mkhosi said Dr Ebrahim’s advice was not conclusive as Copac reserved the right to decide what should be in the final draft.
However, sources said Dr Ebrahim was smuggled into Copac through a sophisticated and diplomatic manner to influence various critical aspects of the constitution making process.
They argue that Dr Ebrahim was used by the US and Britain to play a similar role in Kenya and Somalia.
“What is of great concern is that the UNDP is heavily manipulated by Britain in particular and the US in general and they used it to poke their dirty noses in affairs of developing countries. Why should we have foreigners as advisers in a purely local process contrary to the latter and spirit of the GPA?” said the source.
Online Reporter