UNDP ditches Copac

Second All Stakeholders conference alleging the event will be marred by violence.
The UNDP had pledged the US$2 million required for the event. The conference was set for January, soon after the completion of the drafting process.

Copac co-chairperson, Mr Douglas Mwonzora, yesterday confirmed that the UNDP had already communicated the position to Copac.
“This event was to be funded by the UNDP but they expressed some reservations that they could not fund a process, which was likely to be marred by violence like what happened at the First All Stakeholders conference.

“They argued that they could not sink over US$2 million into violence, obviously they are also taking into account the violence that characterised the public hearings of Bills throughout the country,” he said.
Mr Mwonzora said they were going to look for funds elsewhere, but indicated that there was no positive response from anyone. He said the conference should be held without fail.

Meanwhile, debate over the inclusion of minority rights in the new constitution took centre stage yesterday, with Copac co-chairpersons giving contrasting views to the media.
Briefing journalists and the civic society on constitution update, the co-chairpersons, Mr Mwonzora (MDC-T), Cde Munyaradzi Mangwana (Zanu-PF) and Mr Edward Mkhosi (MDC), also disagreed on several issues that should lead to the completion of the new supreme law of the country.

The three said they had since parked the issue of minority rights.
Mr Mwonzora said the need to protect minority rights had nothing to do with homosexuality, while Cde Mangwana argued that groups such as homosexuals and prostitutes could use the law to further their cause.

Mr Mwonzora said there was need for the constitution to protect minority ethnic and racial groups, but the latter said their rights were protected for under individual rights.
“In some of these ethnic communities like the Shangaans, Tswana or the Tonga just to name a few when their children go to Grade One they are forced to learn Shona and Ndebele and our constitution in

my view should protect them,” said Mr Mwonzora.
“We also have religious minorities in Zimbabwe although the most common religion is Christianity . . . we know that there are people who practice Islam, Buddhism and there are Rastafarians, these people are also entitled to their rights.”