The Herald
By Robson Sharuko
27th March 2010

DAVID COLTART, the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, is a devoted fan of Scottish football giants Glasgow Celtic — that massive team from Parkhead that has about 10 million fans across the world.

He is old enough to have been a witness of his team’s landmark triumph in the 1968 European Cup and the significance of the Lisbon Lions’ sensational victory that day to the global Celtic brand that we have today.

When you are a fan of Celtic, passion runs naturally through your blood veins, and the team’s Old Firm battles with their bitter Glasgow rivals, Rangers, has created one of modern sport’s greatest rivalry stories.

These are explosive battles that, while influenced by football, go beyond the game and spread into religion and ancestry and have historically divided the city of Glasgow — just like Harare — into two blocs of green and blue.

Scottish clubs have found the going tough, of late, fighting in the jungles dominated by the big money of the English, Spanish and Italian heavyweights and Celtic’s 1968 success story now looks like a tale from another era.

But the supporters of Celtic have remained loyal to their team and, seven years ago, 80 000 fans travelled to Seville in Spain, for the Uefa Cup final against Portuguese giants Porto, and they were gracious in a painful 2-3 extra-time defeat.

Fifa and Uefa were so touched, by the exemplary behaviour of the Celtic fans on that night, that the two football governing bodies decided to give the club prestigious Fair Play awards.

Given that background, it’s probably safer to also assume that the spirit of Fair Play runs very deep in the veins of Coltart — if not stemming from a background related to his love for Celtic then from years of being shaped by the virtues of profession as a lawyer.

There must have been a lot of Zimbabweans who cheered Coltart’s passionate defence of this country, in general, and its cricket, in particular, as he reminded the Black Caps of New Zealand of the virtues of Fair Play and challenged them to fulfil their tour in June.

What was remarkable about Coltart’s initiative was that he took his gospel — in support of Zimbabwe Cricket — right into the homes of the New Zealand public.

His passionate defence of this country, which he described as a safer place to visit for the Black Caps than either the United Kingdom or South Africa, was not initially carried in the local newspapers but was sent directly to the New Zealand Herald.

The letter’s reproduction, in this newspaper under a different headline and analysis, was also carried around the world — from India to the United States and from the United Kingdom to Namibia — with newspapers like USA Today reproducing the article.

It went beyond the borders of cricket and international magazines like Rugby World and Road Runner also reproduced the article — signifying its impact around the world — while NewZimbabwe.com, who had their own version, said it was one of the most read articles on their website.

That is what is called impact and one has to give Coltart credit for that.

The minister was responding to the decision by the New Zealand cricketers to postpone their tour of Zimbabwe, scheduled to get underway on June 10, because of claims they were concerned about the safety of their players here.

It’s the second time, in as many years, that the Black Caps have postponed the tour of Zimbabwe and the New Zealand Cricket board now wants the matches delayed until next year or played at a neutral venue.

—It is clear from our recent discussions that the Government’s assessment of the security situation in Zimbabwe has not changed from that of a year ago, when the scheduled tour was postponed,” said New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan.

Coltart said he found it strange that the Black Caps could decide to stay away from Zimbabwe, on the basis of imaginary security and safety concerns, when it was clear that this country was a safer place to visit than the United Kingdom, South Africa or even the Indian sub-continent.

The minister said New Zealand was wasting a golden opportunity to be remembered as a nation that helped Zimbabwe Cricket during its journey back from the darkness, after years in which the sport was torn by internal strife.

There are concrete signs that Zimbabwe Cricket is stepping back to life — after a lengthy period of paralysis triggered by boardroom battles that were entrenched in race complications — and key figures have returned to help the game.

Coltart believes domestic cricket had the potential to play the same unifying role that was played by rugby, in the sensitive period shortly after Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, in bringing South Africa together.

But, hidden deep in Coltart’s letter, were issues — related to the crisis that almost destroyed domestic cricket and its governance — where the minister, once again, appeared to re-open old wounds and trade blows with those in charge of the domestic game.

It’s not a secret that the relationship between Coltart and the ZC leadership has always been tricky and things appeared to get a little bit messy when the minister used his personal website as a medium to publish the views of an Australian writer who believes that Peter Chingoka is a thug.

That Peter Roebuck, the same journalist who made those remarks, has continued to see nothing positive about the developments unfolding in Zimbabwe Cricket — even to the extent of attacking fellow veteran journalist Neil Manthorp for writing a couple of positive articles — shows that there is more to his fight than just the game.

Some say it’s related to incidents that happened when he used to visit this country and found himself facing questions about the real nature of his fascination, or is it relationship, with some local schoolboys.

It’s hard to dismiss those fears, imagined or otherwise, against a background of Roebuck’s suspended jail sentence by a British judge in 2001 for his caning three young cricketers he had offered to coach.

Roebuck pleaded guilty to three charges of common assault involving three South African teenagers, between 1 April and 31 May, 1999, causing actual bodily harm, which was accepted by the prosecution and was sentenced to four months in jail for each count, with the sentences suspended for two years, at Taunton Crown Court.

So when Coltart told the New Zealand Herald that there was need for them to tour, simply because we are not only a safe country but issues like maladministration in the sport were being addressed, it also exposed his frosty relationship with the ZC leadership.

At a time when the same minister was preaching for the New Zealanders to forget about the past — the way the political leaders in this country appear to be doing to create the safe haven he was writing about — it was ironic that he also used the same opportunity to re-open old wounds.

“When it’s the clear wish of former Zimbabwe cricketers such as Heath Streak and Grant Flower — now both national coaches who have suffered in the last decade that this tour should go ahead — they, too, should be listened to,’’ wrote Coltart.

“Importantly, maladministration in cricket is being addressed, racism and tribalism in tem selection has ended and former doyens of the sport, such as Heath Streak, have been re-integrated.”

Yes, the return of Streak and company is key and only someone without a passion for domestic cricket would tell you that the exodus of the white players was a non-event and their contribution is not needed to take the game where it belongs.

But, to suggest that Streak and Flower probably suffered more — in the past decade — than Tatenda Taibu, Proper Utseya, Elton Chigumbura, Chamu Chibhabha and the other black players is, to a certain extent, playing the race card that the good minister appears to be vehemently opposed to.

To portray the white players, who rebelled against the establishment simply because they were not happy about some particular issues, are use them as the face of our battle to convince New Zealand to change its decision and tour this country, is not only wrong but an assault on the process of reconciliation prevailing in the game.

The problem, with Coltart’s appeal, is that it sends a certain message — by design or by default — that the only way we can get the Black Caps here is by telling them that their fellow white players are back in the fold in Zimbabwe Cricket structures.

In other words, rightly or wrongly, New Zealand can tour here if there is a certain white influence in the game — especially that bloc which turned against the establishment — and can’t do the same if the entire system is dominated by blacks.

Certainly, that wasn’t the message the minister sent out but, in an environment dominated by tricky race relationships and were the race card left a lot of emotional scars which are yet to heal, it’s a sensitive subject and wrong interpretations can be drawn from such statements.

When Coltart tells the New Zealanders that, “importantly, maladministration in cricket is being addressed,” it’s a huge statement given the background that even the ICC cleared the ZC leadership of such allegations.

What has changed within the structures of the ZC leadership, which Coltart’s address to the New Zealanders, appear to suggest?

Chingoka is still in charge and Ozias Bvute is still the managing director — that was the case at the time of the rebellion by the white players — and that is still the case now.

In times of battles, opposing factions tend to look for every weapon possible to use against their opponents and there were a plethora of allegations, from financial mismanagement on a grand scale to just about anything one can ever think of, which were leveled against the ZC leadership.

Not that the ZC leadership were saints and they have also conceded, as much, in recent interviews that they read the politics of their battles wrong and rather than see the clear signs that they were fighting a force bigger than those opposed to their values, they were actually fighting the world.

They are human, and they have their faults, but if the ICC investigation can clear them of questionable financial management, then isn’t it wrong to use the same carrot — that there is maladministration in Zimbabwe Cricket and it is being addressed — as a means of luring New Zealand here?

To suggest, as Coltart did, that “racism and tribalism in team selection has ended,” in his letter to the New Zealand Herald, was taking his plea a bit too far because the real battle of Zimbabwe Cricket was never about questionable drafting of certain players into the national team, but the resistance of an institution — for decades built on race prejudice — against change.

There were big mistakes on both sides — in a fight that was built on race — and the good part is many of those who were in the trenches have conceded that they erred, in one way or another, and have accepted that there is need for them to rebuild their battered game.

That is the reason why Streak and company have decided to come back and work with the leadership hoping that both sides can use the lessons from the past decade to build a foundation of success where the curse that almost destroyed their game will never again be allowed to return.

We have already seen positive things from that and the Stanbic Twenty20 Cup — which attracted a battery of sponsors who had fled the game during its bad times and, crucially, a huge fan base that had deserted the game — shows there is a light flickering in the distance.

The national team might have lost in the West Indies but they gave a fight and were certainly not humiliated and, for many of those games, it was closer than the scores suggested.

The absence of genuine pace, to spearhead the attack, remains a concern and hopefully the trials that are on-going and the return of Andy Blignaut will give us hope in that direction.

Therefore, against such a background, it doesn’t help the game that the minister re-opens old wounds and suggests that there was a time when the Zimbabwe cricket team was chosen on the basis of someone being Zezuru, Karanga, Manyika or Ndebele by the current leadership.

There is no doubt, in my mind, that Coltart played his innings — in defence of our country in that letter in the New Zealand Herald — with honour and he deserves to be commended for his stance.

It’s only unfortunate that, to hammer home his point, he somehow tainted his argument by playing the same race card that we believe is a cancer to our game and was the root of all the problems that ended up nearly choking it.

Coltart will certainly not be surprised to find that there are some people, within the ZC leadership, who believe that he didn’t exercise Fair Play in his letter when it came to issues related to the administrative side of the game.

And, for a man who supports a team called Glasgow Celtic whose fans are known to believe in the virtues of Fair Play, Coltart shouldn’t be surprised that there are some in the ZC would believe bowled a wide.

Comment:

The one thing that Robson Sharuko has got right is that I am a devoted fan of Celtic but much of the rest of his comments are just a bunch of beamers. Like it or not there has been maladministration. Any cricket authority that allows its premier first class competition, in our case the Logan Cup, to stop running needs to pull its socks up. I stand by my statement that there has been, in the past, racism, tribalism (or regionalism) in team selection. At one stage it was hard to distinquish Zimbabwe from a Takashinda XI. If you came from out of Harare it was exceptionally difficult to be selected. Fortunately that is all past us and we are all now on the front foot, looking forward positively.

And as for the allegation that I played a race card: as far as I am aware there are no former black test players who were effectively forced out of the country to ply their trade elsewhere and have now returned to Zimbabwe. Had Henry Olonga or Pommy Mbangwa done so of course they would have been mentioned. To suggest that by referring to Streak and Flower alone is playing a race card is, well, a no ball. Have another bowl Robson – and I believe I have a free hit!

Senator David Coltart

Mail and Guardian
By Neil Manthorp
Comment
March 26 2010

Zimbabwe Cricket deserved to be criticised during the 2000s and it was. Such was the decay in administration and performance that no place on the international stage could be justified. The decision to withdraw from Test cricket was wisely taken — and in the nick of time.

Having reported on virtually every incoming tour to the country from the inaugural Test against India in 1992 to 2000, I became passionate about cricket in Zimbabwe. It wasn’t easy to sit back and watch the decade of misery which followed and, though the criticism may have seemed easy to dish up, it wasn’t pleasant.

Zimbabwe’s refusal to sanction my return to report or commentate undoubtedly soured relations and inevitably increased an already biased slant on events. The trickle of information which came from the country was almost inevitably from the disenfranchised and a balanced perspective became impossible.

The story of Zimbabwe Cricket’s attempt to reintegrate meaningfully into the world game is too long and complex to fill a novel, let alone this page, but for me it began with an invitation from a man I had labelled a tyrant, among other things.

ZC managing director Ozias Bvute is certainly not perfect, but welcoming several hours of finger-pointing, chest-jabbing questioning from a hostile journalist is unusual behaviour for a dictatorial, self-serving administrator, as I had called him (based on the information I had been able to gather).

Every question was asked and answered. The ICC spent more than $500 000 on a forensic audit of ZC’s financial affairs following allegations of theft and corruption by Bvute and chairperson Peter Chingoka. The results were never published. Bvute swears he wishes they had been. They revealed some incompetence, outdated accounting systems and naivety about such things as broadcasting costs.

Whether either man also profited from the economic collapse of the nation’s financial system is undecided. But many businessmen did — just ask the tobacco and property industries how much money was made by currency trading during the freefall of the Zim dollar.

But if Bvute did benefit personally then he is giving back to cricket at an extraordinary rate. And he already has an American green card guaranteeing residency, so why is he risking his personal fortune by bank-rolling Zim cricket’s debt of close to $4-million?

Ultimately, however, the most pertinent question may be this: Why should the country’s many, many aspiring cricketers be denied the chance to compete at the highest level because of allegations against their bosses and, even more pertinently, because of the horrendous and abject suffering inflicted on millions of the population by the president of the nation?

South African sports teams of the 1980s knew more than most about the stigma created by isolation and the frustrations of a situation beyond the control of “mere” sportsmen. But the rest of the world was united in its condemnation of apartheid; and the abhorrence of anything that could be construed as indifference, let alone support, of the regime was universal. “No normal sport in an abnormal society.” The slogan was sharp and pertinent and the global sports media took eveery opportunity to use it.

The only debate about the slogan today concerns the interpretation of “abnormal”, but sports boycotts are few and far between, which, presumably, means that a nation’s imperfections and sometimes even appalling faults and abuses are expected, if not accepted, but are still no reason to cancel sporting contact.

South Africa deserved its isolation even if the innocent among its sports people did not. But since the overthrow of apartheid almost 20 years ago, international sporting sanctions have been marginal, localised, short-term and often even petty. Sometimes calls for sporting boycotts are ill-considered and based on emotion rather than analysis or fact.

Even for the most passionate, anticolonial pan-Africanist, for whom Robert Mugabe was, and always will be, a heroic freedom fighter, the president of Zimbabwe was a hard man to whom unconditional support could be given for much of the past decade while his tyrannically obsessed leadership dragged a once-prosperous country into economic ruin. Hundreds of thousands of his fellow citizens either fled or starved. Fact. Not fiction, not propaganda, just the truth.

Since the beginning of 2009, however, with the formation of a government of national unity and the official adoption of the rand and the US dollar as national currencies in place of the laughable local equivalent, the people of Zimbabwe are gradually hauling themselves and their life prospects back from the abyss.

Yet, extraordinarily, there are calls for the Zimbabwean cricket team to be banned from international competition. The national team has an average age of 24 and is full of passion and determination. They long to recreate the era of the early and mid 1990s when Zimbabwe, always the underdog, was a team to be, if not feared, then respected at all times and costs.

Zimbabwe Cricket is still cursed with racial tension and misunderstanding, but there are many differences today from the early 2000s when national captain Heath Streak led a walk-out by 15 white “rebels”. There is a genuinely shared vision among the players, with the return of Test cricket at its hub.

There is a powerful belief that politics — and its influence — can no longer extend into the professional lives of the players. Ten years ago they would not speak outside of cricketing affairs because they were cautious, even fearful, of the consequences. Today they see that option as a right rather than a necessity. Whereas they once considered political talk a hazard, they now see it as an irritation.

Zimbabwe is, in the words of the life-long human rights lawyer and current minister of education and sports, David Coltart, “a country in transition, but one which is working hard to resolve its own problems”.

Coltart (52) has suffered things in his life that many of Zimbabwe’s critics would be unable to digest mentally, let alone physically. Houses of colleagues burned down, staff terrorised and multiple imprisonments. Yet he declares, unbowed: “Zimbabwe needs all the strength it can get and, believe me, I know for certain that a strong cricket team gives people some hope and belief that we are still heading in the right direction.”

Bvute says: “I wish more of our critics would come and see us, come and see for themselves. Our books and accounts are a matter of public record. Anybody with an interest is welcome to come and be our guest. Hopefully they will also have time to see the work being done across the board in Zimbabwe cricket, the franchise system, our development programme and everything else.”

Streak, the “rebel” leader, is now national bowling coach. “Things aren’t perfect, but the will and desire is undoubted. It’s simple to me: You either want to be part of the problem or you want to be part of the solution. It didn’t take me long to decide. I have a son and I want him to be able to play for Zimbabwe.”

Bvute has given another former national captain, Alistair Campbell, the task of “making the rebirth of Zim cricket happen”. He chairs the selection panel and heads the national cricket committee.

“It’s time to draw a line in the sand,” Campbell says. “Whatever happened in the past is gone; it’s time to move forward. We struggled as a nation for a decade and, whilst there’s still plenty for the politicians to sort out, it’s time for cricket to put the crap behind us and head into the next decade.”

Neil Manthorp ended a seven-year banishment from Zimbabwe by accepting an offer to commentate on the country’s inaugural, domestic T20 tournament last month before travelling with the national team to the Caribbean as media liaison officer for the five-match ODI series against the West Indies

The Herald
By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
26 March 2010

From big names in music to the hot faces of the small screens, from businesspeople to top Government officials, all walked on the red carpet rolled out at the Crowne Plaza Monomotapa Hotel for the Celebrity Dinner Dance on Thursday night.

Given the glitter and the glamour that characterises overseas events graced by “filthy rich celebs” one could be forgiven for thinking that such was a preserve of Hollywood stars.

While that might well be true due to Hollywood’s megabucks, however, that does not necessarily follow in Zimbabwe. It was a night to remember as Zimbabwe’s A-listers made their way into the Great Indaba Room, the venue of the fundraising dinner dance hosted by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.

You could have been anywhere in Harare but if you were not part of the audience at the dinner dance, then you don’t know what you missed.

It was an experience to cherish and for once, musicians, comedians, poets, filmmakers, actors and actresses took time off their busy schedules and converged under one roof.

Such a rare gathering brought some fond memories when artists gathered to share not just food but even jokes over a glass of wine.

You could tell that there is unity among Zimbabwe’s celebrities — or is it public figures? — as some of them exchanged numbers while others posed for photographs for posterity.

Some of the celebrities were star-struck and cheered among themselves whenever the master of ceremonies Lovemore Banda introduced a late comer. Banda simply rose to the occasion making sure the programme was flawless.

However, most of the celebrities turned up early for the dinner, which was something of a rare spectacle.

If anything, Zimbabwe’s celebrities know how to dress for the occasion.

The first couple of gospel and elegantly dressed Baba naMai Charamba were seated on the same table as the Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart, Dr Thokozile Chitepo, who was re-appointed the chairperson of the NACZ board and Dr Stephen Mahere, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture.

Other celebrities included Zimbabwe Tourism Authority executive, Gift Chidzidzi and his wife Tabitha was at the same table as Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave and her beau Courage, actress Chipo “Eve” Bizure and hubby Kashweka Mapanda.

Of course, the delectable Eve admitted the “storm was finally over” following rocky times in her marriage.

Theatre practitioner Daves Guzha, popular drama actor and author Aaron Chiundura Moyo and ballet dancer Mathius Julius and Jerusarema drummer Douglas Vambe also graced the dinner dance. As usual, businessman-cum-musician Prince Tendai was at his best showing how much swag he has. He emerged from his Mercedes Benz S350 and was quickly whisked into the venue by the ushers.

Somewhere at the back of the venue were Wallace Chirumiko popularly known as Winky D, stage theatre actress Eunice Tava as well as man-of-the moment, Desmond “Stunner” Chideme.

Winky D received special mention from the emcee for his eye-catching white suit, red shirt and matching woollen hat. Thank God, Stunner showed up nicely dressed in a grey suit and a black shirt something that was different from his usual baggy jeans, T-shirts and caps.

Stand-up comedian Edgar Langeveldt, with wife Raquel, was slightly beside himself as the couple was on separation for months.

Langeveldt donned a black tuxedo and a fedora hat just like his late idol Michael Jackson.

Of course, the dinner dance would not have been complete without Langeveldt’s theatrics. His rendition of the song Heal the World which he titled “Heal My Nose” sent the crowd including Minister Coltart into gusts of laughter.

In the song Langeveldt poked fun at the reports that Michael Jackson’s nose once popped out.

The chorus went something like this:

Heal my nose,

Make it a better face for you and for me and the entire human face.

There are people blogging, Hi-Five, You Tube and Facebook

Heal my nose

Bass guitarist Alick Macheso and his wife Nyadzisai who has a ‘big bump’ on her tummy turned heads as they arrived rather late for the dinner dance. However, they made it in time for introductions as well as the opening speech.

This time around Macheso did not suffer from wardrobe malfunction. He even had a fresh haircut and his grey suit went well with his wife’s long but colourful dress. However, the red wine bottle was three quarters full; maybe Macheso is not a big fan of red wine or that he was seated on the same table as Delta Beverages officials who kept the waiters busy.

Suluman Chimbetu was immaculately dressed in a designer grey suit and necktie while songstress Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana wore a traditional black haute courture dress. Afro-jazz diva Dudu Manhenga also sent the audience in stitches when she introduced some of her band members including her drummer and husband Blessing Mparutsa and his cousin and bass guitarist James Buzuzu.

She jokingly said she was married to her band as a way of keeping it intact.

“The band has been with me for a long time because I decided to marry them. It is easy to work with the people who are close to you,” she said.

Like Prudence, Dudu wore a nice traditional sleeveless outfit.

Acclaimed sculptor Dominic Benhura and one of his two wives were seated in front on the same table as Her Excellency, Gladys Kokorwe, the Ambassador of Botswana.

The Botswana Embassy was one of the sponsors of the event. Other sponsors included Econet Wireless, FBC Bank, Portnet and Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe.

Highlights of the evening included a performance by Dudu and the Colour Blue in which Prudence joined her on stage. The two divas serenaded the audience into the night after some lovely dessert of fresh fruit salad or cake.

“I’m singing for my supper now and I want to see everybody on the dance floor,” Prudence said before belting a yesteryear hit song by the late James Chimombe.

Later, Macheso and Suluman — who laced their vocals over a lingering jazz beat — joined the divas. It was interesting to see Minister Coltart leading the celebrities on the dance floor sweating it out like never before.

Ambassador Kokorwe also showed a thing or two on the dance floor while Benhura who said he had never danced in the past 10 years did so with verve and pride.

The food was tasty and the music was good and the party continued with everyone singing and dancing.

As this was a fundraising dinner dance, there were four sculptures that were auctioned including one by Benhura titled “Welcome” that was sold for US$320. About US$1 000 was raised at the auction. The auctioneer did a splendid job to entice bidders.

The dinner dance sought to raise money to enable the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe to start a revolving fund, which will be given as grants or loans to upcoming artists.

Minister Coltart thanked the NACZ for taking the initiative to identify and nurture talent saying the arts were important in branding Zimbabwe.

Dr Chitepo also reiterated the good work done by the NACZ in championing the arts in Zimbabwe.

The Herald
By Robson Sharuko
25 March 2010

Harare — THE Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart, has taken his gospel — in support of Zimbabwe Cricket — to the New Zealand public with a passionate defence of this country as a safer place to visit for the Black Caps than either the United Kingdom or South Africa.

The New Zealand cricketers postponed their tour of Zimbabwe, scheduled to get underway on June 10, because of claims they were concerned about the safety of their players in this country.

It’s the second time, in as many years, that the Black Caps have postponed the tour of Zimbabwe and the New Zealand Cricket board now want the matches delayed until next year or played at a neutral venue.

“It is clear from our recent discussions that the Government’s assessment of the security situation in Zimbabwe has not changed from that of a year ago, when the scheduled tour was postponed,” said New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan.

Zimbabwe Cricket managing director Ozias Bvute described the decision taken by the Black Caps as one based on incorrect information and insisted his organisation would not agree to shift the matches to a neutral venue.

World cricket powerhouse India have agreed to tour Zimbabwe in June.

Yesterday Coltart, whose ministry is in charge of sport in this country, took his battle to the New Zealand public with a passionate letter — which was published in yesterday’s issue of the New Zealand Herald — questioning the decision to postpone the tour.

Coltart said he found it strange that the Black Caps could decide to stay away from Zimbabwe, on the basis of imaginary security and safety concerns, when it was clear that this country was a safer place to visit than the United Kingdom, South Africa or even the Indian sub-continent.

The minister said New Zealand was wasting a golden opportunity to be remembered as a nation that helped Zimbabwe Cricket during its journey back from the darkness, after years in which the sport was torn by internal strife.

There were concrete signs that Zimbabwe Cricket is stepping back to life — after a lengthy period of paralysis triggered by boardroom battles that were entrenched in race complications — and key figures have returned to help the game.

Coltart believes domestic cricket had the potential to play the same unifying role that was played by rugby, in the sensitive period shortly after Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, in bringing South Africa together. “Clint Eastwood’s recent film Invictus about Nelson Mandela’s efforts to use the 1995 Rugby World Cup to forge unity in post-apartheid South Africa is a powerful reminder of the positive role sport can play in assisting countries in transition,” wrote Coltart.

“Whilst there are obvious differences between South Africa in the early 1990s and Zimbabwe today, there are many similarities. “We are in transition; we too have to forgive those responsible for terrible things done in the last decade; there are still those who will do all in their power to derail the peaceful process. “Just as rugby was able to bind a nation together then I believe cricket can play a similar role in Zimbabwe today.

Furthermore, when it is the clear wish of former Zimbabwean cricketers such as Heath Streak and Grant Flower, now both national coaches who have also suffered in the last decade, that this tour should go ahead, they too should be listened to.”

Coltart said it was unfortunate for New Zealand to use concerns over player security as the reason to delay the tour.

“What I am absolutely convinced of is that by asking the New Zealand team to travel there are substantially less safety and security risks involved than there are in touring the United Kingdom, the subcontinent or indeed South Africa,” wrote Coltart.

“We do not have any terrorist or Al-Qaeda threat in Zimbabwe — bombs have not gone off in Harare as they have in London or Mumbai in the last decade. Crime rates in Harare and Bulawayo are far below those in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

“In short, Zimbabwe is one of the safest places to travel to and the apparent safety concerns of the New Zealand government are simply misplaced and not based on fact. “I have no doubt that if the New Zealand team decides to honour its obligation to tour Zimbabwe in June they will find they will be welcomed by all with remarkable warmth and friendliness. “In the process they will help Zimbabwe cricket in its quest to regain Test status, bring much joy to the Zimbabwean cricketing public and greatly help our peaceful transition to democracy in Zimbabwe.

“I hope that the New Zealand government will have the vision and boldness to enable this to happen.”

Coltart feels there was more to the developments, surrounding New Zealand’s decision, than just player concern.

“I cannot help but feel that there are unspoken reasons behind the New Zealand government’s decision to discourage the New Zealand cricket team from touring Zimbabwe in June 2010,” he said.

“Prime Minister John Key is reported as stating that the main concern was for ‘player safety.’ But I fear there is more to it than that. “I believe, in particular, there are deep-rooted concerns about human rights abuses within Zimbabwe, scepticism regarding the transitional agreement and its chances of survival and, perhaps, distaste for the fact that certain personalities are still in office. “If I am correct in this assumption one understands why this has not been stated openly — because New Zealand may then become liable to pay damages to Zimbabwe Cricket. “Be that as it may I believe there are compelling reasons why the tour should go ahead. I write this in the context of being a human rights lawyer who has opposed human rights abuses in Zimbabwe for the last 27 years.”

Coltart believes that people like him, who live and work in this country, had a better judgment of what was unfolding.

“Firstly, those of us in the MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) are ourselves deeply concerned about human rights abuses and our collective failure as a transitional government to fully implement the transitional agreement,” wrote Coltart.

“However, putting it negatively, this agreement is the only viable non-violent option we have. The agreement has a positive side, too. Despite our failure to implement it fully, we have made remarkable progress in the last year. “The economy has stabilised. Schools have been reopened. Hospitals and clinics now have drugs and the cholera epidemic of 2008 stopped. There has been a massive downturn in the number of human rights abuses. “Importantly, maladministration in cricket is being addressed, racism and tribalism in team selection has ended and former doyens of the sport, such as Heath Streak, have been re-integrated.

“Secondly, for all the political rhetoric, the fact is that the political agreement is functional and is gradually being implemented in its entirety (and) as demonstrated by the successful visit of President Zuma to Harare this week there is progress and in my view there is no danger of the agreement collapsing in the near future.

“Thirdly, and most importantly, our friends in the international community have an obligation to help those of us acting in good faith to make this peaceful process work and sport has a critically important role to play in this regard.”

Reuters
24th March 2010

HARARE (Reuters) – The European Union (EU) on Wednesday gave $10.6 million to Zimbabwe to buy textbooks for primary schools, promoting revival of an education sector which a cabinet minister said was in a dire state.

Government schools closed at the height of the country’s economic and political crisis in 2008 re-opened last year after formation of a power-sharing administration between rivals President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

But pupils remain without books while classrooms in most rural schools are dilapidated and teachers threaten to boycott classes to press for higher pay.

“The situation in schools remains dire. The physical fabric is in a shocking state and the basic necessities are missing,” Education Minister David Coltart said at a ceremony to receive the EU donation to a fund for revival of schools.

The education trust fund was set up last September to raise $50 million to buy books for government primary schools.

Zimbabwe’s education sector had, since independence in 1980, been hailed as the best on the African continent, but its quality has been compromised by a decade of economic collapse.

In 1980 the government spent up to $6 every month per pupil, a figure which fell to $0.70 in 2009.

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) head in Zimbabwe Peter Salama said half of the 3.2 million primary school pupils in the country dropped out before secondary education.

He said UNICEF would next month start distributing exercise books and learning materials to more than 5,000 primary schools around the country and will sign contracts this week with local publishers to print 13 million textbooks.

“This means that we will surpass our goal of getting a textbook to every two Zimbabwean children. Now every Zimbabwean child will receive a full set of textbooks,” Salama said.

NZherald.com
By David Coltart
Wednesday March 24, 2010

I cannot help but feel that there are unspoken reasons behind the New Zealand Government’s decision to discourage the New Zealand cricket team from touring Zimbabwe in June 2010.

Prime Minister John Key is reported as stating that the main concern was for “player safety”. But I fear there is more to it than that.

I believe in particular there are deep-rooted concerns about ongoing human rights abuses within Zimbabwe, scepticism regarding the transitional agreement and its chances of survival and, perhaps, distaste for the fact that certain personalities are still in office. If I am correct in this assumption one understands why this has not been stated openly – because New Zealand may then become liable to pay damages to Zimbabwe Cricket.

Be that as it may I believe there are compelling reasons why the tour should go ahead. I write this in the context of being a human rights lawyer who has opposed human rights abuses in Zimbabwe for the last 27 years.

Firstly, those of us in the MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) are ourselves deeply concerned about ongoing human rights abuses and our collective failure as a transitional government to fully implement the transitional agreement. However, putting it negatively, this agreement is the only viable non-violent option we have.

The agreement has a positive side too. Despite our failure to implement it fully, we have made remarkable progress in the last year. The economy has stabilised. Schools have been reopened. Hospitals and clinics now have drugs and the cholera epidemic of 2008 stopped. There has been a massive downturn in the number of human rights abuses. Importantly maladministration in cricket is being addressed; racism and tribalism in team selection has ended and former doyens of the sport, such as Heath Streak, have been reintegrated.

Secondly, for all the political rhetoric, the fact is that the political agreement is functional and is gradually being implemented in its entirety. Zanu PF has been desperately holding on to whatever power it can and has resisted implementing certain aspects of the agreement. But as demonstrated by the successful visit of President Zuma to Harare this week there is progress and in my view there is no danger of the agreement collapsing in the near future.

Thirdly, and most importantly, our friends in the international community have an obligation to help those of us acting in good faith to make this peaceful process work and sport has a critically important role to play in this regard. Clint Eastwood’s recent film Invictus about Nelson Mandela’s efforts to use the 1995 Rugby World Cup to forge unity in post-apartheid South Africa is a powerful reminder of the positive role sport can play in assisting countries in transition.

Whilst there are obvious differences between South Africa in the early 1990s and Zimbabwe today, there are many similarities. We are in transition; we too have to forgive those responsible for terrible things done in the last decade; there are still those who will do all in their power to derail the peaceful process.
Just as rugby was able to bind a nation together then I believe cricket can play a similar role in Zimbabwe today.

Furthermore when it is the clear wish of former Zimbabwean cricketers such as Heath Streak and Grant Flower, now both national coaches who have also suffered in the last decade, that this tour should go ahead, they too should be listened to.

What I am absolutely convinced of is that by asking the New Zealand team to travel there are substantially less safety and security risks involved than there are in touring the United Kingdom, the subcontinent or indeed South Africa. We do not have any terrorist or al Qaeda threat in Zimbabwe; bombs have not gone off in Harare as they have in London or Mumbai in the last decade. Crime rates in Harare and Bulawayo are far below those in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

In short Zimbabwe is one of the safest places to travel to and the apparent safety concerns of the New Zealand Government are simply misplaced and not based on fact.
I have no doubt that if the New Zealand team decides to honour its obligation to tour Zimbabwe in June they will find they will be welcomed by all with remarkable warmth and friendliness.

In the process they will help Zimbabwe cricket in its quest to regain test status, bring much joy to the Zimbabwean cricketing public and greatly help our peaceful transition to democracy in Zimbabwe.

I hope that the New Zealand Government will have the vision and boldness to enable this to happen.

* Senator David Coltart is Zimbabwe’s Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture.