Author Archives: David Coltart
A perspective on the talks and the election of the Speaker
By David Coltart 9th September 2008 During the last few weeks there has been frenzied media speculation that Robert Mugabe has entered into, or is about to enter into, a deal with the MDC formation led by Arthur Mutambara (MDC M ) *1 see below. The MDC M in honouring the terms of the MOU […]
Whites fine for Zanu-PF, not for MDC
The Zimbabwe Times September 8, 2008 Geoffrey Nyarota THE campaign pitch of President Robert Mugabe in recent elections has been consistent.Since the electorate shocked him out of deepening complacency in the aftermath of the constitutional referendum held back in February 2000 Mugabe has sought to portray himself as a patriot, while presenting his rival, Morgan […]
Not a black and white story
The Guardian By Blessing-Miles Tendi Thursday August 28 2008 Mugabe has always switched his views on race to make political capital, as his enthusiastic welcome of Kirsty Coventry shows “The only white man you can trust is a dead white man.” “Our party must continue to strike fear in the heart of the white man, […]
Zimbabwe opposition wins key post
New York Times By Celia W. Dugger Published: August 26, 2008 JOHANNESBURG: Jubilant opposition legislators in Zimbabwe’s Parliament broke into song and dance on Monday after their candidate won the powerful position of speaker of Parliament, defeating a nominee backed by President Robert Mugabe’s party, ZANU-PF. The victory of the opposition candidate, Lovemore Moyo, by […]
Zimbabwe opposition party wins post of parliament speaker
The Los Angeles Times By Robyn Dixon 26 August 2008 The election of a candidate from the Movement for Democratic Change, or MDC, deals a blow to President Robert Mugabe’s regime. The vote is seen as a key test of who will control parliament. JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — Zimbabwe’s main opposition party won its first […]
Blow for Robert Mugabe as Morgan Tsvangirai’s man elected Speaker
The Telegraph By Sebastien Berger, Southern Africa Correspondent and Peta Thornycroft in Harare 26 August 2008 Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe suffered a major blow to his attempts to hold on to power when an MP from Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change was elected as speaker of parliament. In a stunning upset Lovemore Moyo, chairman […]
SW Radio Africa Hotseat Transcript – Journalist Violet Gonda interviews Senator David Coltart and political analyst Brian Kagoro
SW Radio Africa Broadcast 15 August 2008 Violet Gonda: We welcome David Coltart who is a newly elected senator for the MDC led by Arthur Mutambara and Brian Kagoro a political analyst, on the programme Hot Seat. Thank you for joining us. Coltart & Kagoro: Thank you Violet. Gonda: Let me start with David. The […]
Politics, the educated elite and related matters
The Zimbabwe Times By Geoffrey Nyarota 14 August 2009 (Published in The Financial Gazette, 2006) ANY Zimbabwean politician who despises those of his compatriots who are less academically inclined or accomplished than him invites the wrath of people who constitute the majority of the electorate. While our country’s adult literacy figures are high by any […]
Revolt looms in Mutambara faction of MDC
The Zimbabwe Independent 15 August 2008 THE Arthur Mutambara led-MDC faces a revolt within its ranks after its leader allegedly agreed on all issues under discussion with President Robert Mugabe during the Sadc-initiated dialogue mediated by South African President Thabo Mbeki. It has emerged that the majority of MPs, senators and supporters in the party […]
Zimbabwe: Mugabe set to keep power amid rumours of breakaway deal
The Guardian By Chris McGreal 14 August 2008 Robert Mugabe will shortly install a new government in Zimbabwe following the collapse of political negotiations with his principal rival, Morgan Tsvangirai, according to the state-run press. But the leader of an opposition faction, Arthur Mutambara, denied claims by Mugabe’s officials that he will join the administration, […]