7. The Committee of Seven Noting the impasse that had arisen on how to proceed with the areas that had not been agreed upon during the Conference, the Principals to the Global Political Agreement established a Committee of Seven on the 25th of November 2012 to try to unlock the deadlock. The committee consisted of three Cabinet Ministers, one from each of the parties to the Global Political Agreement, the Co-chairs of the Select Committee and the Minister of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs as the convener and chair as follows: • Hon. Adv. E. T. Matinenga • Hon. P. A. Chinamasa • Hon. T. L. Biti • Hon. P. Misihairabwi-Mushonga • Hon. M. P. Mangwana • Hon. D. T. Mwonzora • Hon. E. T. Mkhosi The Co-chairs of the Select Committee did some work prior to the sitting of the Committee of Seven and produced proposals which were presented for consideration by the Committee of Seven. The proposals are contained in a document titled ‘Report of the Committee of Seven’ also tabled for the consideration of the Honourable House. Specifically, the Co-chairs produced proposals on Part C and Part D of the Report of the Second All Stakeholders’ conference. These proposals were a basis for discussion and thus not binding on any of the parties. Subsequently the Committee of Seven met on the 11th of December 2012 and set out the rules of engagement as follows: a) that the meetings would be convened and chaired by the Minister of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs; b) that decisions of the committee would be by consensus and that they would not be binding until endorsed by the respective political parties. The committee then met between the 12th of December 2012 and 16th of January 2013 to consider the proposals of the Co-chairs of the Select Committee. The meetings culminated in some areas being agreed upon whilst the following could not be resolved: a) Whether the President should have power to dissolve parliament. b) Whether Chief Executive Officers or Heads of Statutory Bodies must have term limits. c) Whether to retain the AG as is in the current Constitution or to separate the offices so that the Attorney General becomes the Advisor to Government and the National Prosecuting Authority assumes the prosecution function. d) Whether to retain the ten persons to be elected to the Provincial Council through PR or reduce the number to five. 51 The Constitution Select Committee (COPAC) Report to Parliament, February 2013