a) to explain to the nation what role they were expected to play in the people-driven constitution-making process. b) to generate messages, in languages that would be easily understood by the people, that would help the work of constitution-making and get these messages across to the people. c) to sensitize important stakeholders and strategic partners such as the media and civil society on the process so as to get meaningful publicity for the process. d) to generate publicity materials to inform and educate the people so as to get meaningful participation. e) to update Zimbabweans, as the owners of the process, on developments relating to the constitution-making process. 2.7.1. Pre-outreach and outreach stage publicity The public consultation phase or outreach commenced, as indicated earlier, in June 2010. Before the commencement of the outreach stage, a lot of publicity was done to ensure that people knew how they were expected to participate in this exercise. Members of the Select Committee went out to the constituencies to inform the nation about the constitution-making process. Zimbabweans were informed that COPAC teams would be coming to all the wards to collect their views on what they wanted included in the draft new constitution. Some of the activities done included the following: a) Meetings and workshops with editors, journalists and news agents were held to explain the important activities that were about to commence. COPAC also appealed to these stakeholders to help publicize the important national exercise by giving meaningful coverage of the process. COPAC also networked with editors and journalists from community newspapers to publicize the process. b) Press conferences and media briefings were held, on a weekly basis, to provide information, curb speculation and clarify issues. Statements were subsequently produced and carried in the media. c) Meetings with civil society were also held quite often to update participants and also get their feedback on the process d) Print and electronic advertising for the process was done. This took the form of COPAC advertorials, radio and television adverts and jingles, placing of COPAC information, such as names of outreach personnel and lists of meeting points in the newspapers, as well as placing of print adverts urging people to participate in the process. The COPAC website was created to provide an interactive platform for disseminating information and getting feedback on the process. 34 The Constitution Select Committee (COPAC) Report to Parliament, February 2013