Author Archives: David Coltart
‘Mandela is key to Mugabe early exit plan’
IOL 1st November 2000 Harare – Nelson Mandela could play a critical role in working out a plan for the early exit from power of Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, a top Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) opposition politician said on Wednesday. “I think that Mandela has a critical role to play in developing an exit […]
Death threat against MDC candidate
Sapa-Sapa-AFP BULAWAYO — A candidate for Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change, David Coltart, said yesterday he had been informed of a new death threat against him, apparently linked to his work as a human rights lawyer during the Matabeleland massacres in the 1980s. Coltart, who has been threatened on several occasions during the election […]
Honour in Harare
The Daily Telegraph 21st Jun 2000 Anonymous THREE days remain before Zimbabweans vote in a general election after a campaign which has been both a disgrace and an honour to their country. The disgrace falls on President Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF. They have conducted a wicked war of intimidation against their opponents, from white farmers […]
Britain must take lead against Mugabe
Daily Telegraph Letter to the Daily Telegraph 12 June 2000 SIR – David Coltart’s article on Zimbabwe (opinion, June 6) made heartening – and depressing – reading. As the effect of the remorseless ratchet of Robert Mugabe’s subversive policies pervades life there, so the will of the international community to influence events seems to evaporate. […]
David Coltart
MDC Legal Affairs Dedicated Human Rights activist David Coltart was born in Gweru in 1957. He is committed to Zimbabwe and Bulawayo, a city he has lived in for many years and where his three children attend school. He is the candidate for Bulawayo South. Coltart notes: “Zimbabwe’s economy has collapsed because ZANU-(PF) is violent […]
Zimbabwe farm workers taking the heat
IOL By Jeremy Lovell 29th May 2000 Harare – Activists of Zimbabwe’s ruling party beat and intimidated farm workers who did not attend its election rally, farmers said on Monday. “They took a roll call and sent people to farms whose workers were not adequately represented and beat them up,” claims a spokesperson for the […]
A message of hope for Zimbabwe
Legal Resource Foundation, Bulawayo Zimbabwe is passing through the darkest chapter of its history in the run up to the 2000 elections. The economy, which has been battered by inept ZANU(PF) rule and corruption over the last few years, may well melt down in the next few weeks. There is no foreign currency. Factories and […]
Report on Martin Olds’ Murder
The Telegraph By David BlairĂ‚Â 19 April 2000 A SCORCHED and bullet-scarred farmhouse showed the struggle mounted by a white Zimbabwean farmer during a two-hour siege yesterday before he was killed by 70 armed attackers. Martin Olds, 43, died after gunmen launched a dawn raid on his home at Compensation Farm in Matabeleland, 400 miles […]
Mugabe declares war on country’s white farmers
The Independent By Rupert Cornwell Wednesday, 19 April 2000 Britain accuses Harare of reviving the racism of colonial Rhodesia as President says war veterans are justified in their attacks Robert Mugabe in effect declared war on his country’s white farmers last night, branding them “enemies of Zimbabwe” and blaming their intransigence for the spate of […]
“The Smoke and Mirrors Constitution”
Zimbabwe Independent The Constitutional Commission appointed by President Mugabe, which cost Zimbabwe several hundred million dollars, wound up its work with the presentation of a new draft constitution to President Mugabe on the 29th November 1999. We are told that the “people have spoken” and that the draft constitution reflects the views of the people. […]