It also emerged yesterday that COPAC was reviewing its security processes in desperate attempts to limit leaks from the constitution writing process, stalled by political bickering between ZANU-PF and the two formations of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

The three political parties are engaged in a battle of wits to impose their views on the final draft that would be presented for voting through a referendum.
An investigation is also being mooted within COPAC corridors to determine the source of the leakages of part of the draft document, which is being serialised in the State media.

COPAC is also mulling legal action to stop the continued serialisation of the draft.

The leaks have damaged the credibility of the entire constitution-making process with ZANU-PF, which is the dominant party in the coalition government, now skeptical about the whole process.

ZANU-PF spin-doctors are alleging that the MDC-T is intent on smuggling gay rights into the final draft, charges denied by the labour-backed party.

Last year, COPAC appointed three professionals to draft the new constitution namely former Zimbabwe High Court Judge Justice Moses Chinhengo, Priscilla Madzonga and Brian Crozier. 

The drafters have been accused by ZANU-PF of “lifting” certain information from foreign constitutions to suit the aspirations of the two MDC formations, charges dismissed by COPAC, which also absolved the drafters of any wrong-doing.

COPAC spokesperson, Jessie Majome, said despite the present storm surrounding the process, the drafting process was going ahead in the Eastern Highlands. 

“It’s unruly to prematurely put the document (draft) out. We have then decided we should take the process away from the madding crowd. It should be put on record that the Select Committee has agreed that it is out of order to put an incomplete process into the public domain,” she said.

Majome, a lawyer by profession, said in view of the latest leaks to the media, the Select Committee would be reviewing drafting instructions.

“We are handling the leaks as we believe it is not in the interest of Zimbabwe to be leaking such vital information before the Select Committee has seen it.

The public should be wary of such leaks that are not coming from COPAC. Certain people or organisations have agendas that might not be helpful to the country. Because of the seemingly lack of confidentiality COPAC’s credibility has been at stake and, as such, we are taking measures to stop this toxic and mischievous haemorrhaging,” said Majome.

Under the Global Political Agreement signed between President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, a new constitution is envisaged to lead to fresh elections that would bring closure to the acrimonious government of national unity, consisting of ZANU-PF and the two MDC formations.

By Special correspondent