MDC Legal Affairs
Dedicated Human Rights activist
David Coltart was born in Gweru in 1957. He is committed to Zimbabwe and Bulawayo, a city he has lived in for many years and where his three children attend school. He is the candidate for Bulawayo South.
Coltart notes: “Zimbabwe’s economy has collapsed because ZANU-(PF) is violent and undemocratic. It has spent our hard earned money on a huge cabinet, imported Mercedes Benz vehicles, involved Zimbabwe in a futile war in the Congo – the list of the Government’s incompetence is a long and sad song.”
From work at the Bulawayo Legal Projects Centre where he started his legal career, he learnt that the people of Zimbabwe are unaware of their fundamental rights. Decades of human rights abuses have left citizens feeling cut off from the justice system. To improve society, the Centre now runs 10 legal advice branches for the underprivileged in Matabeleland, organises workshops and seminars, is involved in test case and public interest case litigation. In the past year the Centre has been responsible for a number of landmark Constitutional decisions handed down by the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe.
“Do not be fooled by ZANU(PF)’s use of land to divert our attention away from the disastrous state of the economy and their corruption. Since 1987 this party has had in its hands all the constitutional power to solve the land issue but it has failed dismally. Now they want to dump people on small plots without giving them ownership of that land, without providing roads, water, schools or clinics to ensure success for these abandoned communities. They cannot provide the needed infrastructure because the economy is bankrupt and they will not get any funding for their land policy because of their irresponsible behaviour.
“Zimbabwe stands at a crossroads. We cannot continue down the road to destruction built by the present government. We have the choice to change direction for the sake of our children-to follow the MDC road to democracy and economic revival. We have all been victims of ZANU(PF)’s violence, threats and economic mismanagement for the last 20 years. The MDC is committed to non-violent democratic change, to fighting corruption and to wise spending of our Nation’s precious resources.”
Coltart spent his school years at Hillside Junior School and then Christian Brothers College. He left Zimbabwe for the University of Cape Town where he attained a BA in Law and a LLB (post graduate degree in law). During his time as a student, he was interested in human rights issues which led to an involvement in organisations committed to defending the democratic principles of society. From 1980-81 he was the Chairman of the Zimbabwe Students’ Society and in the following year worked as Director for the Legal Aid Clinic in Crossroads Squatter Camp and was also elected to the Law Students’ Council.
He came back to Zimbabwe in 1983, to work for a legal firm, where he was appointed a partner in 1984. Since 1983 he has been involved in hundreds of human rights cases including the defense of the late Sydney Malunga, the late Edward Ndlovu, Welshman Mabhena and Stephen Nkomo.
David became the Senior Partner for Webb Low and Barry, Legal Practitioners, Bulawayo in 1998. Clients include Churches, Church organisations, human rights activists, politicians, political parties, parastatals and corporations.
Current Commitments
- Chairperson for the Bulawayo Legal Project Centre
- Trustee for the Legal Resources Foundation
- Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Petra School Trust
- Elder of the Bulawayo Presbyterian Church
- Vice Chairman and Trustee of the Edward Ndlovu Trust
- Board Member, Central and Southern African Legal Assistance Foundation
- Advisory Board Member of Zimbabwe Human Rights Association.
As an individual he has spoken out against human rights abuses and corruption for 17 years. “If we Vote for MDC together we will create economic growth and increased prosperity in our wonderful country. The choice is yours. I urge you to vote for a new start for Zimbabwe. A new beginning.”