Talking Points developed. However, the Talking Points did provide the basic questions required to address the main national concerns. The Talking Points were translated into vernacular languages to enable the various communities to understand the questions. Whilst the translations done were not perfect, they however allowed for basic communication with various communities in the country. The responses by the generality of the people demonstrated an amazing grasp and understanding of the issues under discussion. Some of the people however felt that some of the questions were a repetition of the others, and this was reflected in the responses given, which appeared to be similar to those for a different question. It became necessary, during Thematic Committee discussions, to align the responses to the relevant questions. 1.2. Training of Outreach teams The training of outreach teams was carried out between December 2009 and January 2010. Outreach teams comprised of political parties (30 percent) as well as civic society (70 percent), and these were to form the core team of members that would solicit for the views of the people during the outreach meetings. The first group to be trained was the Members of Parliament, who were trained over three days at the end of December 2009. The rest of the team members were trained in early January 2010. The main purpose of the training was to ensure that all outreach members had a firm understanding of the Thematic areas agreed to at the First All Stakeholders Conference which had earlier on been held in July 2009. The training was undertaken by various resource persons with vast experience in the various Thematic areas. The outreach members were also trained on general etiquette expected when conducting outreach meetings. They were also trained on how to effectively co-chair the meetings and the need to speak with one voice during the consultation process. There were seventy outreach teams set up throughout the country. Each team had three Team Leaders, one from each of the political parties in the GNU, whose role was to lead the team in asking questions and ensuring that the other categories of persons in the teams, such as Rapporteurs and Technicians, did their work properly. All in all, there were two hundred and ten (210) Team Leaders throughout the country, with most Team Leaders being Members of Parliament. The Select Committee was pleased with the performance of the Team Leaders. It was clear that Parliamentary experience on the part of Members of Parliament carried the day in providing leadership to the teams. In addition to the two hundred and ten Team Leaders, there were five hundred and eighteen (518) ordinary team members throughout the country. These were also trained in their various roles during the month of January 2010. These ordinary team members were also drawn from the three political parties in the GNU as well as from eight other political parties which had participated in the March 2008 General Elections, and members of the civic society. They also helped in asking questions during the outreach meetings. 1.3. Training of Rapporteurs Rapporteurs were responsible for the recording of all the responses from the people. In the initial stages, the Select Committee had settled for seventy Rapporteurs, translating to one 29 The Constitution Select Committee (COPAC) Report to Parliament, February 2013