Problems dog Copac opening

materials was not yet complete.
Zanu-PF held a two-day meeting with its delegates which ended yesterday with a conclusion that it would not accept anything that is not in the National Statistical Report.
Businessman and political analyst, Mr Danny Musukuma, who successfully challenged Copac in court last week to publish the national statistical report, said he would file an application at the Supreme Court this week to nullify the whole process.
Copac national co-ordinator Mr Gift Marunda yesterday said there were logistical challenges facing the successful holding of the conference.
“We are still trying to sort out accommodation for delegates, while there are also challenges with availability of necessary documentation,” said Mr Marunda.
“We are going to give delegates three voluminous documents which are the National Statistical Report version one and two and a report of the drafting instruments.
“Printflow is working flat out to complete the printing. You may also need to appreciate the magnitude of work at hand. Hopefully, all documents will be available by the time discussions start.”
Mr Marunda said most hotels booked for delegates were still occupied by those attending the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Travel and Tourism Africa Fair which ended in Harare yesterday.
“For that reason, our ability to move all our delegates to the venues of choice may be affected,” said Mr Marunda.
“We are trying to work with various hotels to see if they can accommodate the delegates. As you may be aware, we have had last minute additions.”
Mr Marunda said of the over 1 300 delegates, Copac was going to accommodate about 900 from outside Harare, while those from the capital would stay at their homes.
He said President Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai would address the delegates while it was not yet clear by last night who would join them between Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara and MDC leader, Professor Welshman Ncube.
At the Harare International Conference Centre where the conference would be held, the situation was quiet with no Copac workers in sight by yesterday evening.
The venue was expected to have been decorated with Copac banners.
Zanu-PF said its condition for the conference was that discussions should be premised on the National Statistical Report.
This comes against a background where MDC formations are saying the draft constitution was drafted using the right methods.
“We, as a party, believe in the supremacy of the people of Zimbabwe which must always be upheld, to do otherwise would be an act of betrayal and a display of contempt of the people,” said Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo yesterday.
“Zanu-PF is therefore confident that all delegates from their various groupings will stand guided by the views of our people and will respect the supremacy of Zimbabweans and that they are final arbiters in matters of this nature.
“As Zanu-PF, we urge all delegates from their various persuasions not to fail the people and should all stand to be guided by the desires and aspirations of our people as expressed by them during the outreach programme.”
Zanu-PF, Cde Gumbo said, was aware of spirited efforts by MDC formations to hide the national statistical report.
The workshop for the Zanu-PF delegates was opened by party National Chairman, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, and chaired by Secretary for Administration, Cde Didymus Mutasa.
Mr Musukuma said despite being accredited, he would not be part of the conference.
“I am going through a lethal court process with Copac,” he said. “It’s now graduating to a point of filing a constitutional challenge at the Supreme Court seeking absolute nullification of the entire flawed process.
“After being given the National Statistical Report, I realised it has exposed all the flaws of the entire exercise.
“It exposes explicitly the fact that the current Copac draft doesn’t derive from the views of the people as espoused in the National Statistical Report.
“It is therefore not prudent for me to be involved in an exercise I am totally against.”