BULAWAYO: Bulawayo's small city hall was packed to capacity on Tuesday as residents turned up en masse for the launch of the much-awaited final draft of the country's constitution.The Constitution Parliamentary Select Committee (COPAC) was mandated way back in 2009 at the formation of the inclusive government to come up with a new constitution prior to the holding of general elections. The country has been using the old Lancaster House Constitution since independence in 1980. The inclusive government selected 25 members from parliament assisted by 25 officers and a technical team of eight members to drive the constitution making process.
The Bulawayo team was led by Lupane West Member of Parliament (MP) Martin Khumalo, assisted by Gifford Sibanda, a COPAC officer, and two other female colleagues. Copies of the summarised English and Ndebele versions of the constitution were distributed to the audience who came from all walks of life.In his opening address, Khumalo reminded the audience how the Constitution-making process had started and the problems, which they encountered in the past four years adding that his team had no technocrats to explain the details of some sections of the constitution.
