Kubatana.org
By Voice for Democracy
30 March 2010
The VOICE FOR DEMOCRACY’s reply to David Coltart’s letter to the New Zealand Herald
There is a fine line, as the international community knows full well, between supporting democratic change in Zimbabwe and collaborating with a dictator. Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sport, David Coltart, seems to believe that New Zealand has an obligation to play cricket in Zimbabwe (New Zealand Herald, 23 March 2010). We disagree. New Zealand should stick to its principles, ignore Coltart, and shun Zimbabwe’s dictatorship.
In his article, David Coltart repeats a claim he made in December 2008 that going into government with Robert Mugabe was the only viable non-violent option. This was untrue then as it is now. As one commentator wrote, the MDC had a fistful of options for peaceful democratic change which were squandered when they reinstalled Mugabe to the fullness of his abusive powers.
Coltart then adds insult to injury by making such disingenuous claims that Zimbabwe’s Inclusive Government has made remarkable progress in the last year and that the political agreement is gradually being implemented in its entirety. This is not remotely true, which is why the European Union renewed its targeted sanctions against those members of Zimbabwe’s government accused of gross human rights abuses.
Indeed, if Coltart listened to himself he would be hard-pressed to recognise the lawyer who opposed human rights abuses in Zimbabwe for the last 27 years. It seems incredible that he now claims that there has been a massive downturn in the number of human rights abuses when
ZANU(PF) is busy re-establishing the very bases in rural areas that unleashed such horrific violence during the June 2008 presidential elections.
He claims that maladministration and racism in cricket is being addressed, when the same top officials who were responsible for that corruption, racism and abuse of power remain firmly in place. It is all the more painful when he lauds cricket’s collaborator-in-chief, Heath Streak. Our heroes are Andy Flower and Henry Olonga who forfeited their cricket careers because they took a principled stand against the dictatorship.
Coltart is right in one respect: if the New Zealand team decides to come to Zimbabwe they will be welcomed with remarkable warmth and friendliness by our patron of Cricket Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe! Dictator 1: New Zealand 0.
Comment by Senator David Coltart
31 March 2010
I don’t for a moment suggest that everything is well but objectively the situation is better overall than a year ago. There are some sectors – land for example – which are not better but most sectors are. I challenge you to dispute that objectively and truthfully. Also I challenge you to say what the viable options are. I have seen, I think, articles written by you stating that an election is a viable option. With respect the only election we will have in the short term is another repeat of June 2008 which no-body needs.
Do you have any idea what Heath Streak has been through? I think to call him “collaborator in chief” is a cruel cut. He genuinely loves cricket and is doing what he can to revive the sport.
I think it is time for you to get out of your negative mind set and start applying your considerable talents to helping make this peaceful non violent experiment work.
Voice of Zimbabwe responds
1 April 2010
Your reply is contradictory. If there are no bases and no threats of violence and the GPA is being implemented, why should you be afraid of elections? It is us in the Voice for Democracy who realise that unless the threat of violence is removed we will not have a free and fair election next year or in 5 years hence. That is why election violence is our principal concern and why we are so frustrated by you continually down-playing the greatest obstacle to our country’s transition to democracy.
Yes, our comments about Steak may have been too strong. But why, after all that Heath Streak has gone through, does he have anything to do with Zimbabwe Cricket? David, you’re in charge, but what have you done about the millions of dollars that were siphoned off by the very people who still control Zimbabwe Cricket and that Streak now works for again? One of the other core issues the Voice for Democracy stands for is justice. These people that you work with are criminals. Is it a blind eye you turn or just your other cheek?
And negative? Not at all. We draw strength and energy from our dedication to democracy and justice. We want democracy, not a deal stitched up between leaders that leaves the dictator in power and a government that is the very antipathy of democracy. We intend to see every person who committed gross human rights abuse and crimes – including those you work so closely with – brought before a independent and impartial court to face justice. In your inimitable way you probably think that this is ‘unrealistic’, but it is an ideal – like democracy – which we believe is worth fighting for. I know you are a strong Christian, David, but what we want are crusaders against human rights abuses and impunity, not dirty deals with dictators and touchy-feely peace-at-any-price solutions: what you euphemistically call a ‘peaceful, non-violent experiment’.
We hope this makes our position clear.
Comment by Senator David Coltart in response to the response
1 April 2010
Until there is a reasonable constitutional framework, democratic election laws, a new all inclusive voters’ roll, an effective well functioning ZEC and a new spirit in our armed forces (especially the police) an election will be a farce. I agree that the abolition of violence is a pre-requisite – I am not downplaying that issue – my goodness I should know – my polling agent Patrick Nabanyama was abducted and never seen again – on several occasions thugs have threatened to burn my house down – I have had to go into hiding on several occasions – my sons were chased through the streets of Bulawayo in March 2008 by Zanu PF thugs and had one tyre slashed!! All I am saying is that calling for an election tomorrow without these issues being addressed first is wrong. I just do not see how my reply is contradictory – we must rely on factual evidence – Sekayi Holland told me personally on Monday that she had been to Muzarabani and did not see any bases. I have not received reports from PTUZ for at least 7 months regarding threats against teachers etc. I am not saying that everything is alright – but we must rely on facts, not conjecture.
As for cricket: I have read the ICC report – amazingly it exonerates Zimbabwe Cricket! I am dissatisfied with aspects of it and like you suspect that there may have been skulduggery but once again I cannot rely on conjecture. And even if there is strong evidence I have no choice but to work with the de facto leadership. The same applies to Cabinet. There are people there who have done far worse than anything Bvute or Chingoka are accused of. Is it therefore wrong for Morgan Tsvangirai and the rest of us to be in that Cabinet? It goes back to the fundamental point – is there any other viable non violent method of bringing change to our Nation? With respect you have still not set out for me a viable alternative.
I commend your idealism. I too strongly believe in justice and democracy – but included in those concepts is the need to save lives. I saw in 2008 that our country was being destroyed and I feared that we would be taken down to the level of Somalia with catastrophic consequences for all and the loss potentially of hundreds of thousands of lives. I am reinforced in that view by what I have seen in the education sector in the last year; we are in serious danger of losing an entire generation – numeracy and literacy rates are plummeting. Had we not intervened last year I think that we would have lost that generation. We only need to look south to see the consequences of the loss of a generation. Bantu education is still taking its toll on South Africans through the vicious crime it has spawned.
My concern is that there are folk in civil society and in the Diaspora on reasonably comfortable packages who can afford to sit in ivory towers and dictate what should be the ideal remedy to resolve our Nation’s woes. But they are, for example, out of touch with the reality of the plight of children in remote rural schools in Nkayi. I believe that there is nothing euphemistic in what we are trying to do – I think it is rooted in reality and truth. And this is hardly a “touchy-feely” solution – I have never worked so hard for so little pay! There may be some of my colleagues who are finding this a breeze but I can assure you that there are a strong committed core of us (in both factions of the MDC) who are working long hours in difficult conditions in good faith to achieve the very same goals you are.
Let me stress that I do not for a second suggest that you should not be fighting for your goals – eg of bringing people to justice – or constantly holding us to account – civic and church groups are thankfully not bound by the GPA and their role is to fight for these issues and to keep us honest. I accept that there is always a clear and present danger that we will succumb to temptations of office and where we falter we must be held to account.
But I also believe that it is time that there be more objectivity and fairness in the national debate and critique. Just because you are against the GPA does not mean that you automatically occupy the moral high ground. Likewise just because we are part of the GPA does not mean that we are all acting in bad faith and are all a bunch of scoundrels.