Foreign observers for Copac confer­ence

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga and Copac co-chairperson, Cde Paul Mangwana confirmed the development yesterday.
“The foreign observers who are going to attend are those already accredited at Zim­babwe’s diplomatic missions here,” said Min­ister Matinenga.
“We are making it open that if embassies accredited here want to attend the conference they can come.”
He said Copac also agreed that there would be local observers.
Added Cde Mangwana: “We are not going to have foreign observers per se, but embassy staff who are already here.
“We have given them a maximum of two staff members. The invite is open to all embassies accredited to Zimbabwe.”
Sources said the foreign observers were not expected to come up with reports that would have a bearing on the process.
“As Copac, we have agreed that they would not write any reports that may influ­ence the process.
“They are only coming to observe, but with no mandate to write any reports because we want to make sure this process is strictly Zimbabwean driven,” said a source.
Meanwhile, Cde Mangwana said Copac would appeal against an application by businessman and political analyst, Mr Danny Musukuma, at the High Court seeking to block the conference slated for next week.
“We are opposing the application. We have already instructed our lawyers to handle the matter,” said Cde Mangwana.
Mr Musukuma argues that the conference that runs from Monday to Tuesday next week cannot be held before the publication of the National Statistical Report’s contents.