Author Archives: David Coltart
‘Ghost voters’ on voters’ roll – MDC
IOL 30th March 2005 By Fanuel Jongwe Harare – As millions of Zimbabweans prepare to vote on Thursday, the opposition says it is worried that as many as one million long-dead or non-existent voters on the roll could hand victory to President Robert Mugabe’s party. The so-called “ghost voters” or “Zimbabwe zombies” on the voters’ […]
For Zimbabwe, Peaceful Vote, But Is It Fair?
The New York Times 18th March 2005 By Michael Wines and Sharon Lafraniere; Michael Wines reported from Filabusi for this article and Sharon Lafraniere from Johannesburg. An employee of the New York Times in Zimbabwe contributed reporting. If this is an outpost of tyranny, it was not immediately obvious in this one-road backwater buried in […]
Mugabe’s £5 million palace complete
IWPR By Chipo Sithole CONSTRUCTION has been completed of Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe’s controversial £5 million mansion in Harare’s leafy northern suburbs. The 25-bedroom private house, built by a Serbian construction company Energoproject to a Chinese architectural design, has two lakes in its 44 acre landscaped grounds and is protected by a multi-million pounds radar […]
Government accused of confusing voters
Zimbabwe Standard ZIMBABWE has several bodies dealing with elections and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) believes this is a ploy to confuse voters. David Coltart, the MDC secretary for legal affairs, says the government has successfully hoodwinked the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) into thinking the recently enacted Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Act had […]
Mugabe turns to military to ensure victory
Seattle Post JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has increasingly turned to hard-line military commanders to cow his factious country and now is relying on them to ensure a ruling party triumph in March 31 parliamentary elections. He appointed a former colonel to run the new Election Commission last month and passed laws […]
Mugabe puts military at the centre of Zimbabwe’s election
The Daily Telegraph 24th January 2005 By Peta Thornycroft in Harare Mr Mugabe has given the security forces a legal role in elections President Robert Mugabe was accused yesterday of “militarising” Zimbabwe’s forthcoming election after a new law placed the army in charge of polling stations and installed the regime’s allies in every key position. […]
Alumnus personality profile: David Coltart (1982)
University of Cape Town: Law update Alumni News After graduating in December 1982 David joined Webb, Low and Barry (WLB) in Bulawayo. He was admitted as a legal practitioner of the High Court in February 1983. In April 1983, after being appointed Secretary of the Bulawayo Legal Practitioners Association, he established the first Legal Aid […]
Proposed media gag roundly condemned
The Financial Gazette THE Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Bill, which proposes punishment of up to 20 years imprisonment for anyone who publishes or communicates statements perceived to be prejudicial to the state, is unconstitutional and meant to close any “loopholes” in the existing repressive media laws, analysts said. The proposed law, which has miffed […]
The ball is now in SADC’s court
David Coltart On July 20, President Mugabe, in his speech marking the opening of parliament, announced that a number of electoral reforms would be introduced that would level the electoral playing field. Mugabe and Zanu PF disingenuously claimed that these reforms (including the establishment of a new Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the reduction of polling days […]
M.D.C – Decision to suspend its participation in further elections
Mail and Guardian (SA) The MDC’s decision to suspend its participation in further elections pending Zimbabwe’s compliance with the new SADC guidelines and principles for democratic elections seems to have taken many by surprise. It was assumed that the MDC would continue to place blind faith in Zanu (PF) eventually opening up the democratic space […]