Tsvangirai urges participation in Copac meetings

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has urged Harare residents to take part in the constitution – making process that resumes in the capital city this weekend after being abandoned in September due to Zanu PF sponsored violence.

The MDC leader was speaking before hundreds of MDC supporters at a consultative meeting at Budiriro Community Hall in Harare on Thursday evening. The meetings launched two weeks ago at Mabvuku Hall also in Harare, are meant to consult people on the performance of the inclusive government.

Issues being analysed include the the flagrant disregard of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) by Zanu PF and Robert Mugabe, the Constitution – making process and the next year’s election.

“The Constitution – making process has been marred by violence, intimidation, bussing in of Zanu PF supporters and the disruption of some of these meetings especially in the rural areas and this has seriously tainted the whole process,’ Tsvangirai said.

“However, I urge you all to attend the Copac meetings that resume in Harare this weekend.  We want to go to elections next year with a new Constitution.  After the winning that election then we will make sure that the country has a real people – driven Constitution with all your views and desires captured,” he said.

The last Copac meetings in Harare were aborted in September after Zanu PF bussed in its supporters from the rural areas.  The rowdy Zanu PF supporters turned violent and disrupted the meetings in most parts of Harare.  The disturbances led to the death of one MDC member, Chrispen Mandizvidza after he was attacked at Mai Musodzi Hall where he had made a contribution. 

Meanwhile Tsvangirai said the MDC was geared for the next elections but would fight to ensure that the process was peaceful, free and fair. “We want to have peacekeeping forces in place before and after the elections. We want to have SADC, AU and other international observers in country during the elections.’