The parliamentary select committee in charge of Zimbabwe's constitutional revision process said Thursday that it needs to raise another US$5 million dollars to fund a 15-day extension to the public outreach program initially slated to last 65 days, amid international donor concerns about soaring costs.
Select Committee Co-Chairman Douglas Mwonzora said the panel will meet with the project board in charge of funding issues Monday to discuss the extension of 15 working days or three weeks, and the respective roles of donors and the government of Zimbabwe in meeting additional costs.
Mwonzora said the 15 additional days will cover the outreach exercise in Harare and Bulawayo, which was postponed in June due to concerns about suspected plans to pack meetings - and also because the World Cup of soccer unfolding next door in South Africa commanded public attention.
Mwonzora told VOA Studio 7 reporter Jonga Kandemiiri that an additional US$5 million is needed but that the Harare government has already raised $1 million.
Lovemore Madhuku, chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly, a civic group that has opposed the parliamentary-led constitutional process, said donors have only themselves to blame for the present situation because they knew from the start that the process was flawed.