Author Archives: David Coltart
Tsvangirai begins election challenge
Independent Online Harare – Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court on Thursday began hearing a petition from opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai challenging President Robert Mugabe’s victory in elections three and a half years ago. A lawyer for Tsvangirai argued that the constitutional rights of the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had been violated because the […]
Whither Zimbabwe – A failed state? A “Parliamentary democracy”?
(A speech delivered to the symposium organised by Bulawayo Agenda and the Konrad Adenhauer Stiftung at Bulawayo on the 16th November 2005) I have been asked to consider the question as to whether Zimbabwe is now a failed state. It is hard to define what a failed state is because that is such a relative […]
Constitutional hysteria takes Africa by storm
The Herald WHAT is motivating the wave of constitutionalism sweeping across Africa? Who is behind it? Is this pre-occupation with national constitutions a manifestation of growing consciousness within Africa, or another manifestation of external manipulation? Where does the constitution stand in the resolution of Africa’s ongoing socio-economic and political challenges? Isn’t Africa better off addressing […]
Gibson Sibanda: When MDC ignorance provokes history
The Herald By Nathaniel Manheru AT the risk of sounding overweening and elitist, I have repeatedly maintained MDC is the West’s bid to foist an ignorant leadership on Zimbabwe, in place of an enlightened one. To what end, it is not difficult to say. After all, the doyens of British foreign policy have long advised […]
Sikhala suspension null and void: court
Daily Mirror HIGH Court Judge President Paddington Garwe yesterday declared as null and void the suspension of St Mary’s lawmaker Job Sikhala after the defendants failed not only to turn up in court but also to oppose the matter. MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai suspended Sikhala on October 31 on allegations that he made unsubstantiated statements […]
High Court lifts Sikhala’s suspension
New Zimbabwe A ZIMBABWEAN court on Tuesday reversed the suspension of an opposition legislator accused of issuing false statements to the media on the party’s funding. Job Sikhala, the MP for St Mary’s was suspended by Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader, Morgan Tsvangirai after he claimed the party had received up to US$2,5 million […]
Tsvangirai flees
The Herald A RALLY called by MDC president Mr Morgan Tsvangirai at Somhlolo Stadium in Lupane yesterday failed to take off after the opposition leader and his entourage were chased away by party youths opposed to his decision to boycott Senate elections. Highly placed sources in the MDC said a group of youths had “camped” […]
MDC split on ethnic lines
The Herald By David Samuriwo DESPITE Monday’s last ditch efforts to patch major differences concerning Senate elections to be held in three weeks’ time, the leadership of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has finally decided to go separate ways effectively splitting the five-year-old political party. A faction led by party leader Mr Morgan […]
MDC meeting thrown in doubt
The Herald From Bulawayo Bureau A MEETING of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change national council -the party’s supreme decision making body – called for tomorrow in Harare by MDC president Mr Morgan Tsvangirai has been thrown into doubt after members of a faction led by Professor Welshman Ncube said they were not aware of […]
MDC – Heading for a split
SouthScan (London) The opposition Movement for Democratic Change seems to be heading for a split after a dispute between its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, and the party’s vice president Gibson Sibanda over the upcoming November 26 senate elections. Tsvangirai has been touring the country to mobilize support for his policy of boycotting the poll, while the […]