VOA Studio 7
By Chris Gande
27 April 2016
WASHINGTON DC
A top human rights lawyer and opposition politician, David Coltart has implored the United States government to lift targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe saying they have outlived their purpose.
Coltart made the plea Tuesday at a book signing ceremony for his book entitled ‘The Struggle Continues: 50 Years of Tyranny’ at the US Capitol.
Coltart said the targeted sanctions imposed on President Robert Mugabe and his inner circle a couple of years ago were not benefiting anyone but the Zanu PF leadership because they were apportioning their failures to effectively run the economy on the restrictive measures.
Coltart, a former education minister in Zimbabwe’s inclusive government which ended in 2013, said although in the past the security chiefs were united around President Mugabe now they are divided.
Chairman of the U.S House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed Royce, told the gathering that Coltart’s book would enable the Zimbabwe situation to continue under the spotlight.
‘The Struggle Continues: 50 Years of Tyranny’ has already caused tremors in Zimbabwe after Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa denied that he had urged the killing of people during the Gukurahundi massacres of the 1980s as written in the book.
During a question and answer session, U.S Congressman, Gregory Simpkins, asked Coltart how it felt to be referred to as an African when he is white.
In his response, Coltart said although there were some white people, who still regarded themselves as Europeans, the dynamics have changed because he has his roots dating back more than a century in Africa.
Coltart has held several signing ceremonies in the U.S during the past few weeks and was expected to leave for Zimbabwe on Friday.