The Insider

22nd July 2018

Movement for Democratic Change senatorial candidate David Coltart, a former Minister of Education in the inclusive government, has described today’s meeting between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and white voters as a publicity stunt.

He told British news agency Reuters; “I’m not surprised. You have to look at where this took place.”

The meeting was held at Borrowdale in Harare. Borrowdale is one of the poshest suburbs in the capital.

“There are some very wealthy whites there who have long established connections with ZANU. It’ll be the community who have business connections.”

Reuters said, however, many of the whites who attended the meeting saw Mnangagwa’s fig leaf as a major turning point.

“He’s recognising everyone as the same. We’re all one now, which is beautiful,” said mining engineer Cais Carstens. “This has never happened before, so it’s good.”

Zimbabwe is holding crucial elections in nine days and Mnangagwa is facing stiff challenge from 40-year old Nelson Chamisa of the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance.

Although polls show that he is leading Chamisa, the gap has been narrowing and Chamisa might overtake him before the poll.

Reuters

22nd July 2018

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa addressed a crowd of white voters on Saturday in an attempt improve relations ahead of a July 30 election, a marked shift from his predecessor Robert Mugabe whose policies became increasingly racially divisive.

Mnangagwa, who came to power when Mugabe was removed in a de facto coup in November, is on the campaign trail ahead of what is expected to be a tight contest with his main rival, Nelson Chamisa, the 40-year-old leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

The white Zimbabweans who are left in the country – estimated at around 30,000 – would usually vote MDC or for another opposition party, given the strained relationship with Mnangagwa’s ruling ZANU-PF.

But Mnangagwa, a 75-year-old former Mugabe ally, has pledged to fix racial divisions and end the violent seizure of white-owned commercial farms, a policy that Mugabe said was intended to redress post-colonial imbalances.

Many farms ended up in the hands of powerful politicians, soldiers or local chiefs and fell into disrepair.

“I know of some chiefs who have moved from one farm to another. Then they run it down. Then he leaves that farm and he is issued another one. He runs it down. That time is gone,” Mnangagwa told a crowd of several hundred white Zimbabweans in Borrowdale, a wealthy suburb in the capital Harare.

Mnangagwa is hoping to revive a once promising economy, end chronic cash shortages and bring down soaring unemployment. In order to do this he needs the help of Western donors who want to see the issue of white-owned land addressed.

Many of the white Zimbabweans in the albeit partisan crowd saw Mnangagwa’s fig leaf as a major turning point.

“He’s recognising everyone as the same. We’re all one now, which is beautiful,” said mining engineer Cais Carstens.

“This has never happened before, so it’s good.”

Opponents dismissed the event as a publicity stunt backed by people with political and financial interests.

“I’m not surprised. You have to look at where this took place,” said David Coltart, an MDC Senator.

“There are some very wealthy whites there who have long established connections with ZANU. It’ll be the community who have business connections.”

Newsday

17th July 2018

THE opposition MDC Alliance has turned up the heat on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec), accusing it of violating sections of the Electoral Act with their design of the controversial presidential ballot ahead of the equally gripping July 30 general elections.

Seasoned lawyer and MDC Alliance senatorial candidate David Coltart said the designs by Zec were illegal and not in conformity with the Electoral Act and regulations of 2005 updated on June 1 this year.

“Presidential ballot violates section 57 of the Electoral Act because Form V10 does not allow a double page. It has to be on a single page, as the South Africans did in 2014,” Coltart said.

He said Zec had a mandate to ensure that they delivered the election within the confines of the law, adding that the current ballot paper was outside their mandate.

“Section 239(b) says Zec must ensure elections are in accordance with the law. The law is section 57 of the Act and Form V10 … design means artistical fashion, colour, font type and attractiveness, which does not give them the right to alter the form,” Coltart said.

MDC Alliance has vowed to block the elections, accusing Zec of entering a design which favoured the incumbent, Emmerson Mnangagwa, on the presidential ballot.

MDC Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa has indicated they suspected the ballot was not even printed in Zimbabwe as claimed by Zec, adding it could have been printed in Russia.

Zec chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba (pictured) has maintained that the commission was operating within the confines of the law and they hold the exclusive rights to design and print of the ballot.

She also said the demands of printing on one column would have cost Zec more and confuse the voters because of the high number of presidential candidates — the 23 of them.

“The concerned one-column design by a concerned stakeholder would have resulted in a long ballot paper of A3 plus in size and required double the amount of paper. It would have been difficult for the folded paper to fit in the aperture of the ballot box because of size,” Chigumba said in an interview with our sister paper The
Standard.

The Standard

24th June 2018

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday led the condemnation of the blast at a rally addressed by President Emmerson Mnangwa where nine people, including government officials, were injured yesterday.

Chamisa said violence had no place in Zimbabwean politics as people took to social media to condemn the alleged attempt on the president’s life.

“Terrible events at White City stadium,” he tweeted. “Our prayers go out to the injured and we hope no lives have be lost.

“Violence must have no place in our politics. May God bless and protect the country we all love.”

Former Education minister David Coltart also condemned the blast, saying he was grateful the president survived.

“I am deeply shocked to hear about the explosion at President Mnangagwa’s rally in Bulawayo and grateful he survived,” he tweeted.

“This must be condemned by all patriotic Zimbabweans. We must bring the cycle of violence to an end. My condolences are extended to all those affected by this.”

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) said it had joined other emergency response units that rendered first aid to the injured before ferrying them to hospitals.

“Our first aid action teams who had been deployed to provide first aid coverage as the norm for such big gatherings responded immediately, providing first aid and transferring the wounded to nearby hospitals,” said Maxwell Phiri, the ZRCS secretary general.

He praised the commitment of Red Cross personnel who assisted people injured during the incident, saluting their dedication and bravery, which he described as inspiring.

ESPN

21st June 2018

Tatenda Taibu, former Zimbabwe captain and their convener of selectors until March, severely criticised the current administration for their treatment of players – in particular Brendan Taylor – and called on cricketers in the country to band together.

Taylor, who opted out of a Kolpak-deal with Nottinghamshire a year early to return for Zimbabwe last September, was left out of Zimbabwe’s 22-man training squad to play a T20 triangular series next month, which includes Australia and Pakistan. Taylor, along with former captain Graeme Cremer, batsman Craig Ervine and allrounders Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams, have not played in the warm-up matches against Kenya, and Raza made himself unavailable for the tri-series to play in a T20 tournament in Canada instead. The other four remain available for Zimbabwe but only if their demands for a payment plan for outstanding salaries and match fees is delivered by Zimbabwe Cricket to its players by June 25.

The players are negotiating through their resurrected player association, which Taibu singled out as being driven by Taylor, and told ESPNcricinfo a union is the only way to stop ZC from intimidating younger players into playing, despite not being paid.

“I felt it was very unfair for Brendan Taylor to be targeted for doing what was right and forming a players’ union,” Taibu said. “It’s the right thing to do, to have the players’ union, but I know that if there is a players’ union, the board cannot do what they are doing now.

“At the moment, the chairman (Tawengwa Mukuhlani) is in Harare holding meetings with players individually. A lot of the players are young and will be scared to stand up to the chairman. If there is a players’ union in place, the board will have to speak to the players’ union and there will not be able to divide and rule like they are doing. Brendan had to pay the price there, which is not right, which is what I am standing against. It takes a lot of courage for Brendan to stand up for what’s right. He has my utmost respect.”

Taibu initially stoked the flames with a tweet on Wednesday evening which read: “What is this? @BrendanTaylor86 tries to do the right thing by helping to set up a players union, which all the other countries have. What do the selectors and ZC do, exclude him from the series. Shame on ZC. Everything that has a beginning has an end.”

He also challenged the rest of Zimbabwe players to stand with Taylor and behind the idea of a union, including those who attended Taibu’s academy, Rising Stars. Taibu tweeted Brandon Mavuta, Blessing Muzarabani (who is not in the Zimbabwe squad as he is playing overseas), Tarisai Musakanda, Rugare Magarire and Tinashe Kamumhukamwe the following: “I never taught u to be divided. I taught u principal. @BrendanTaylor86 needs u 2 stand with him.u’re the ones who’ll benefit from his stand. If u’re divided,u’ll finish your career and have nothing to show 4 it.”

He told ESPNcricinfo that he believed he taught his academy charges better. “When they were at the academy, I taught them principles and the right thing so I reminded them that,” he said. “And I had to let the players know that what’s happening to Brendan is unfair and can happen to anyone.”

But Taibu’s biggest challenge was issued to the senior players, in particular Elton Chigumbura, Hamilton Masakadza and Chamu Chibhabha, who were all named in Zimbabwe’s squad. “When are you ever going to stand up for principle? When are you ever going to show youngsters the right way? Surely you can’t tell me that you haven’t been seeing what’s been happening. Earn some respect for standing for the right thing.” Taibu tweeted.

And in a series of replies to other Twitter users, including a former sports minister of Zimbabwe David Coltart, he continued to put pressure on Masakadza to “do something.”

“Hamilton has a chance to do something credible by rallying the troops to stand with @BrendanTaylor86. Let’s see how he wants to be remembered by the cricket world.” For Taibu, it is now time for “the older generation that are in the side to stand up for what’s right.”

Taibu clarified that he was not calling on the players to strike but rather to insist on the formation and legitimacy of a players’ union, which was reformed on June 1, but is yet to attain the signature of all the players. “People mustn’t get me wrong. I am not asking them to boycott the games,” Taibu said. “I am asking them to stand with Brendan and sign to have a players’ association and the players’ representative will take it from there. They will be consulted on decisions. That’s how all the other countries operate. Why shouldn’t we operate in the same way?”

Taibu also confirmed he believed part of the reason he was sacked following the failed 2019 World Cup qualifying campaign was because “I said all the things I should have said while I was in the organisation. That’s why I was ousted,” he said.

On Twitter, Taibu also promised a tell-all autobiography “soon.”

The Herald

9th June 2018

MDC politician Mr David Coltart has written to the principals of MDC Alliance requesting that he runs for a senatorial seat instead of a parliamentary one. Mr Coltart was set to contest in Bulawayo East constituency where he was beaten by Ms Thabitha Khumalo (MDC-T) in the last elections.

In an interview yesterday, Mr Coltart said he took the decision after consulting his family and law firm.
He said his family advised him to vie for the senatorial seat instead of being actively involved in constituency development.

“And my family and my law firm would rather that I stand in the Senate,” said Mr Coltart.

“The precise reason behind it is that senators do more of law making than running a constituency. And that is the thinking behind it and that is my role as a lawyer.”

Mr Coltart said he remained committed to the MDC Alliance and was hoping that his request would be acceded to.
Ms Khumalo said she was not aware of the latest development.

Mr Coltart is not the first seasoned politician to quit contesting for a Lower House seat.
Zanu-PF secretary for administration Cde Obert Mpofu and long standing MP for Umguza Constituency also migrated to contest for the senate.

Cde Mpofu, who is also the Minister of Home Affairs and Culture, said he was quitting the National Assembly seat to pave way for younger blood.

“I am now old, I now want to sit with elders in the Senate,” he said. “There is a young leader that I have identified and groomed. There is a need for older people to train and lead the youths to prepare for the future.
“A position should not belong to one person, but should be passed on to others.”

Matabeleland North provincial chairperson Cde Richard Moyo is now contesting for the Umguza National Assembly seat.

The Herald

21st May 2018

This is the Herald’s rant against me this morning. Irony of ironies it confirms their brazen breach of section 61(4) of the Zimbabwe Constitution.

Indeed election times are upon us and these are interesting times when national discourse is centred on which political party has the vision, the stamina and indeed the depth of character to take our great country forward. In this rough political discourse, those who speak without applying their mind, more often than not, find themselves trying to apply the thought process way after it is too late.

One such character is former Rhodesian cop and MDC politician David Coltart. Coltart is a beneficiary of the colonial Rhodesian government that did everything in its powers, including spilling blood, to suppress the rights of the black majority.
The same Coltart was a beneficiary of the Zanu-PF goodwill policy of national reconciliation enunciated by former president Robert Mugabe at Independence in 1980.

The same Coltart is a beneficiary of the Constitution of Zimbabwe that gives him rights equal to all other Zimbabweans including those he spiritedly sought and still seeks to deprive their rights. Surprisingly, that does not seem to cross his mind or provoke his conscience.

He has never masked his distaste for majority rule in Zimbabwe, which he describes in his book as a continuation of Rhodesian tyranny.

Two weeks ago, before he left for London on his party’s trip of shame, he insulted Zimbabweans, stating brazenly, “For all Zanu-PF’s rhetoric about Zimbabwe being open for business, the one thing they have never learnt in 38 years of misrule is that the single most important factor in any investor’s decision to invest in a country is security of the investment.”

In other words, Independence has been bad for people like Coltart, and he is happy to campaign against investment in the country so long as the MDC continues to be rejected by the people of Zimbabwe.

Then in the past week or so, Coltart has sought to turn his frustration on The Herald, citing the Constitution of Zimbabwe, Section 61 (4) to be precise, by accusing the newspaper of bias. He deliberately ignores the fact that the same section of our supreme law gives public media the right to publish without interference from those suffering from a sense of racial superiority.

It is fact not fiction that Coltart has found the going hard in the MDC-T Alliance top echelons after he made an analysis of Nelson Chamisa’s performance during an interview on BBC HARDtalk, which did not go down well with Chamisa.

The poor fellow said what his master did not want to hear. Coltart, typical of those used to benefiting from all systems, he now wants to use The Herald as a smokescreen behind which to hide his real opinion on Chamisa’s performance.

His is nothing, but a blatant attempt to abuse the Constitution of the country by picking part of a section and leaving out the other parts. And, now he blames The Herald.

The Constitution is for us all. Yes, Coltart benefited from Rhodesia, Zimbabwe-Rhodesia and indeed Zimbabwe and now he thinks he can be taken as a neutral between Zanu-PF and the MDC-T Alliance. No!

It is just the Zanu-PF Government is too humane, too tolerant and too considerate. And people like Coltart know they can take advantage of that to traffic their quisling politics in the name of democracy.

It’s obviously something he wouldn’t do in Europe and America where nationalist politics is in ascendancy.
Freedom of expression, freedom of the media and all freedoms cannot continue to be reserved for a single person or political formation. Freedom should not be freedom only when it benefits David Coltart.

NO! Hiding behind The Herald is not a good idea. If Coltart is principled and said what he felt was the truth about Chamisa’s performance in London, he should stand by his opinion. That is what “democracy” is about or he should carry his own cross.

New Zimbabwe

18th May 2018

FORMER Education minister and MDC Alliance Bulawayo East parliamentarian aspirant, David Coltart says the forthcoming elections will be fundamentally flawed as long as the state media continues to breach section 61 of the constitution which compels all government controlled media to be apolitical and non–partisan.

He was speaking at a Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) organised election reporting workshop in Bulawayo on Wednesday.

Coltart said the state owned media such as the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), The Herald and The Chronicle were in violation of sub section 4 of section 61 of the constitution which clearly states that all state media should be free to determine independently the editorial content of their broadcasts and other communications.

“ZBC and everything in the Zimpapers group has to be constitutionally compliant. That means they cannot have a bias in favour of one party or one candidate. They are breaching the constitution and the laws of the land and that is a serious thing. There cannot be free and fair elections as long as these fundamental provisions in the constitution are breached,” said Coltart.

The veteran politician said while the state owned media is required at law to objectively and fairly cover all political parties, the independent media is not included in the constitution.

“I have heard the argument that, well the Herald supports Zanu PF but Newsday and Daily News support other opposition parties. That’s not what the constitution says. Zanu PF has got its own publications which are supporting its partisan line. So often I feel as if I am shouting on a brick wall on this issue because unfortunately this culture has deeply crept into our nation,” he said.

Coltart said during his recent MDC Alliance trip to the UK, he met several top politicians and key London government officials and he emphasised the need and importance of independent television plurality ahead of the elections.

“As you know, I was in Britain last week and I met fellow politicians and MPs from throughout the world such as South Africa and Sweden. I asked them can you imagine a general election in your countries where there is no independent television station and the only television station promotes one party. Not only does it promote one party, it denigrates all other political parties. They were all shocked,” he said.

“I said to British MPs, can you imagine if the BBC was a conservative television station and no other radio and television stations? Would you say that would have been a free and fair election and they all laughed,” he added.