The Zimbabwe Mail

19th November 2014

Former minister of Education, Sports and Culture David Coltart has said the Zimbabwe Examinations Council (Zimsec) must find ways of plugging all examination leakages that are threatening to erode the country’s high quality education.

Coltart said the huge costs incurred while rectifying leakages through re-setting and re-sitting of examinations could be channeled towards fortification of the same, which have become perennial and were in bad taste.

In an interview with The Zimbabwe Mail on Monday, Coltart, who was recently commended by President Robert Mugabe for successfully lobbying for Zimbabwe to host the African Union Sports Council Region Five Youth Games which fell under his ministry in the unity government, said Zimsec’s examination standards were “excellent” but that the perennial leakages threatened their dignity.

“The integrity of the examinations, which I must say is high even compared to the Cambridge University O’ Level, is under threat from these leakages and there must be a rigid approach by Zimsec to guard against this,” he said.

About 200 000 Form Four students throughout the country are required to re-sit four examination papers following an alleged leak which occurred at one school in the Midlands Province.

Such leakages have also been reported in the past, including an infamous incident in which a drunk teacher forgot examination papers in a commuter omnibus in Bulawayo. Although some political parties have blamed Zimsec for the leakages, Coltart said most leakages have been traced to schools rather than to the examination body.

“Most leakages have been traced to schools and Zimsec should be strict and even withdraw examination centre statuses to schools that have leaked,” he said. Such deterrent measures would ensure leakages were plugged, he added.

The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) led by Lovemore Madhuku recently accused Zimsec of being irresponsible and urged parents to take the body to court for unilaterally deciding that papers that leaked in the Midlands be re-written countrywide.

NCA said the decision to have candidates re-sit would not “contribute to stamping out corruption at Zimsec.”

The opposition party said in its view that such a drastic decision should only have been taken with respect to the “affected centres”.

Coltart said Zimsec should be strict in the awarding and withdrawal of examination centre statuses to offending schools. It could also invest more into the security of the papers which he said leaked at school level than at the setting centres.

“So far examinations have been leaking at the school rather that at Zimsec and there is need to be rigid in awarding and withdrawing examination centre statuses to schools where examinations have leaked,” he said.

He said Zimsec should, like Cambridge, embark on thorough inspection of examination centres before awarding them the status to be able to hold examinations.

“It is a good intention that Zimsec tries to avail itself to the larger part of the country but that is also difficult to monitor; leaked examinations cost more to rectify,” he said.

Coltart said disciplinary action, including withdrawal of exam centre statuses, would be deterrent enough to guard against leakages.

http://www.sundayworld.co.za/

18th November 2014

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s wife Grace launched a fresh and bitter attack on Vice President Joice Mujuru, calling on her to resign immediately and accusing her of “inappropriate” dressing.

In a speech to thousands of students gathered at the Zimbabwean first family’s farm in central Mazowe district, Grace Mugabe boasted that she had “trapped” the vice president.

She said she had a videotape of Mujuru accusing her of persuading the long-time president to stay on in power just so that the family could enrich themselves.

Just four months ago, Grace Mugabe, 49, played no part in Zimbabwean politics apart from appearing at her husband’s side during rallies and political functions.

But in July she was nominated to lead Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party’s powerful women’s league – and since then she has spearheaded an increasingly vitriolic campaign against Mujuru in an apparent bid to force her out of the party ahead of or during a congress next month.

Said Grace Mugabe on Monday in a speech shown on state ZBC TV: “You will be shocked to find that this is a person we called vice president for 10 years. You will be shocked. She must resign forthwith.”

Mujuru’s 10 years as vice president were “a waste of time”, the First Lady said as she paced up and down in front of cheering crowds.

“And you know what? I trapped her. Let me tell you I trapped her. There is more to come,” Grace Mugabe said in an apparent reference to the secret recordings she allegedly has of Mujuru.

The battle between Grace – who is apparently part of a faction of the ruling party led by top official Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mujuru’s arch-rival – and Mujuru has dominated Zimbabwe’s news for the last two months.

At the weekend state media accused Mujuru of being part of a plot to assassinate president Mugabe, accusations the vice president has angrily refuted.

Grace has not denied harbouring presidential ambitions herself, though it still appears unlikely she would take over immediately after her husband leaves power.

The president’s wife accused Mujuru on Monday of wearing a mini-skirt, adding: “Let me tell you, she was inappropriately dressed.”

Former education minister David Coltart said in a tweet: “Quite remarkable things said this evening on ZBC by Grace Mugabe regarding Vice President Joice Mujuru.- this really has got nasty now.”

The Zimbabwean

18th November 2014

The public has expressed mixed reactions to the leaked Zimbabwe Examinations Council’s Ordinary Level papers.

Some say Zimbabwe should abolish ZIMSEC and revert to Cambridge Examinations while others maintain that the locally managed examinations should be given time to establish themselves.

Of late government has announced that ‘O’ Level English and Mathematics papers had leaked and would be re-written before end of the year.

Former Minister of Education, David Coltart, noted that it was not the first time the papers had leaked and the problem was not with ZIMSEC, but school authorities who lacked discipline.

Coltart warned the nation against sensationalising the issue since ZIMSEC was trying to expand the examinations throughout the country at an affordable fee.

“The solution would be to avoid granting every school the examination centre status without meeting expected standards. Some schools have slack measures for the safe keep of examination papers leading to the leakages,” Coltart said, pointing out that the selective granting of examination status to schools should not make life difficult for rural children.

According to Coltart, he remembers an incident which involved a junior teacher ferrying examination papers by public transport and eventually losing them.

Never Kamba, an Epworth resident and businessperson, blamed poor teachers’ remuneration for the leakages.

“The leakages are partly caused by the poor earnings of teachers who set the papers and later distribute them to schools.

“I think if the country could revert to Cambridge Examination set abroad security would be tightened around the exams,” said Kamba, suggesting that the examination papers would start leaking from the institutions where they are set.

Nomore Kapini of Sunningdale had no kind words for ZIMZEC and urged government to make Cambridge Examinations compulsory without further delays.

According to Kapini, ZIMSEC had lost its integrity and it was time it adopted Cambridge without negotiations.

Kapini said: “ZIMSEC has failed to maintain security around the papers for years now. The only option on the table is to revert to Cambridge before the remains of the examination are wiped off.”

Anyway Tafireyi, a Marondera resident suggested that the examination papers be delivered to centres on the day of the sittings, or otherwise Cambridge would be the best way to go.

“If there is no fastest possible means to deliver the papers last day to schools, then external examinations like Cambridge would be the only option.

“The fact that locally set examinations would find their way to candidates through people who set them, complicates the whole issue,” Tafireyi said, suggesting that it would better if the examinations are set by outsiders from outside the country.

As a precautionary measure, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Lazarus Dokora, said the replacement Ordinary Level English and Mathematics papers would be ferried to schools by ZIMSEC officers.

Following the leakages, Ordinary Level English paper 1 and 2 and Mathematics paper 1 and 2 will be written from November 24 to November 27.

The original papers leaked at Whato Secondary School in Gweru. Some members of staff connived to sale the papers to candidates and arrests have since been made.

New Zimbabwe.Com

17th November 2014

THE First Family is now playing dirty in its fight against a coup plot by vice president Joice Mujuru, allegations the latter vehemently rejected in a statement Monday which effectively dared President Robert Mugabe to sack her.

The Mugabes claim that Mujuru, impatient to take over as president and frustrated by the 90-year-old incumbent’s refusal to step down, has been working on a plot to topple the veteran leader at Zanu PF’s congress next month.

To thwart the alleged plot, a vicious campaign has since been launched to scandalise Mujuru and First Lady Grace Mugabe has led the charge, accusing the vice president of grand corruption, incompetence and treason.

Top Zanu PF officials thought to have been backing Mujuru to eventually take over from Mugabe have either been suspended from their positions or expelled as in the case of Jabulani Sibanda who was also removed as war veterans leader.

Others have been forced to switch sides through “persuasion, intimidation and threats”.

And on Monday Grace showed that the First Family was even engaging in the stuff of espionage fiction in its desperate bid to retain power.

Addressing supporters at her Mazowe compound, Grace claimed to have successfully set up a trap for Mujuru, adding the VP tried to seduce her spy.

“I set up Mujuru and I now have recording of her in a mini-skirt, speaking ill of me and the president … ngaaende izvozvo,” she said.

“I set a trap … told someone closer to her to record her, she was recorded while she was wearing a mini-skirt, I don’t know whether she wanted to lure this person or not because the way she was dressing it’s embarrassing for a person of a vice president.

“Do you know what she was saying in that video? She was saying why is Grace not telling her husband to step down?”

Grace did not say where the recording was made but the vice president could not have been at her offices if she was inappropriately dressed as the First Lady claimed.

In a post on his Facebook wall Monday night, opposition politician and former education minister, David Coltart, said Grace had crossed the line.

Wrote Coltart: “In view of the quite remarkable things said on ZBC this (Monday) evening by Grace Mugabe about Vice President Joice Mujuru, in particular about video recordings of Mujuru in her home, it is pertinent to recall the provisions of Section 57 of the Zimbabwe Constitution which state:

“Every person has the right to privacy, which includes the right not to have:

a) their home entered without their permission;
d) the privacy of their communications infringed.”

“Section 51 is also relevant – the right to human dignity which states “Every person has inherent dignity in their private and public life, and the right to have that dignity respected and protected.”

He added: “An unacceptable line has been crossed this evening.”

Grace however, said she had more such recordings and threatened to make them public if Mujuru does not heed her demands that she quits office.

“This is nothing, there is more to come,” said the First Lady. “She (Mujuru) must just go than to be fired.”

A defiant Mujuru issued a defiant statement Monday saying she would not resign and effectively challenging Mugabe to fire her.

“I am an elected servant of the people of Zimbabwe …” said Mujuru.

“I deny any and all the allegations of treason, corruption, incompetence, and misuse of public office being routinely made against me in The Herald and Sunday Mail Newspapers.

“I have briefed my legal practitioners to take the necessary steps, at law, to restore my good reputation, political standing and dignity. I stand ready to defend myself before the Party, and in any court of law on any of the allegations made against me, at any time, in accordance with the laws of Zimbabwe.

“To you my fellow citizens I say, that I, Joice Teurai Ropa Mujuru, am here to serve the people of Zimbabwe, and the party Zanu PF, that I have always been a member of.

“No amount of malicious, hurtful and false statements about me, my late husband, my family, children, associates or business interests (real or imagined) can deter me from the mission at hand.”

New Zimbabwe.Com

3rd November 2014

THE reported reunification moves by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Renewal is a giant step towards the creation of a democratic, peaceful, tolerant, respectful and honey dripping Zimbabwe. The merger of pro-democracy forces for a common agenda is a response to the many deafening calls by many friends and progressive citizens.

The MDC formations are simply taking instructions from those many calls by the people of Zimbabwe on the need to collectively tackle the Zimbabwean political crisis. This, in my personal view, is a revisit to the mandate that we got from the people of Zimbabwe fifteen years ago. Zimbabwean problems can only be solved by Zimbabweans in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe will never be the same again and the perpetrators of our suffering will soon be part of history. It is good that we finally found each other after years of chasing a wild goose and learning. Zimbabweans should understand that we are in this game for the love and sympathy of the strangled nation. The greedy and selfish ones will be seen here and there and some of them are known even today. There is nothing as unique as finding and forgiving each other. There is nothing as unique as a collective confrontation of the country’s political crisis.

The unity talks taking place between MDC Renewal and the MDC present an opportunity for the ill-informed and misled citizens to understand some characters like Professor Welshman Ncube, Tendai Biti, Elton Mangoma, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, Sekai Holland, Goodrich Chimbaira, Edwin Mushoriwa, Frank Chamunorwa, David Coltart and Gorden Moyo. All these people are not in politics for a living but for the genuine love of their country; a country trashed and reduced to a shell.

The dumping of Morgan Tsvangirai at different stages by the like-minded democrats was met with mixed reactions by the blunt and politically blind former colleagues in the opposition league. Tsvangirai’s poor leadership qualities drove people away from him and only those too desperate for water can continue to squeeze the rocks for miracle drops. A return to Tsvangirai is as bad as eating your own vomit.

MDC President, Professor Welshman Ncube, is one cadre who does not have problems with team work and tolerance level adjustment, a seasoned leader who can accept the strength and weaknesses of fellow team members. I worked under him and my job has never been difficult especially when I wanted advice and leadership. He is a quick thinker and eloquent public speaker with the capacity to work with anyone, anywhere.

Tendai Biti is one principled and courageous fellow with useful arrogance that has kept Robert Mugabe on his toes. He is in the same class with veteran activist Munyaradzi Gwisai in terms of attacking strategies. And we have no reason to doubt the capacity and wisdom in Samuel Sipepa Nkomo who comes from the nationalist league with the likes of Petros Mukwena, Jefret Khumalo, Jacob Moyo and Esaph Mdlongwa.

The two political parties are made up of cadres who have seen it all, people who share the same dream and the same vision. My personal dream is to see a liberated Zimbabwe for our young and abused generation. At our first meeting as pro-democracy forces I saw the usual enthusiastic, vibrant, determined and courageous fighters with the much-needed desire and steam to take Zimbabwe forward.

We have started a journey, dear comrades, that will lead us to the promised land; a journey that will leave most of us brutalized by the crippling regime. We have learnt many lessons from many situations since 1999 and those should not be repeated again. Zimbabwe has reached a turning point and a new political order is beckoning. Mugabe is now embroiled in confusion, a situation that has seen him confessing his allegiance to a faction of internal political vultures; getting lost to the extent of believing nonsense from only four liberation war turncoats.

The Zanu PF leader has been blinded not to see or know reality, losing focus because of a bedroom Judas kiss by the game spoiler. All Zanu PF supporters and war veterans are being forced to butt kiss the executive secretary-cum First Lady. War veterans are not expected to be partisan; after all they made a stupid decision to link themselves to the rotten Zanu PF party. If Jabulani Sibanda was elected by a properly constituted congress he cannot be removed by a few documented power hungry war veterans, most of them with questionable liberation war credentials.

These are all signs and symptoms of a crumbling and clueless regime known for nothing other than criminal activities and the merciless slaughtering of innocent citizens. A reorganized opposition has a big task to reconstruct and mend a fractured and looted country. Zimbabweans will obviously see the quick opening of dormant industries and a functional government with people centred policies.

The honest engagement by the two MDC formations should be embraced since it is a beginning of a fruitful journey to Zion. Zimbabwe will never be a Sodom and Gomorrah or a Babylon again. The reported merging of the two mdc formations will certainly restore hope and confidence in many hopeless and impoverished citizens.

The Zimbabwean

22nd October 2014

MDC Senator and former Minister of Education, David Coltart, spoke in London earlier this month at an event in support of the Budiriro Trust, a small charity which has been providing educational bursaries to Zimbabwean A level students since 1967. The Zimbabwean education system has everything going for it – except money – and for this simple reason it is on the verge of collapse leaving the country at risk of being “colonised” once again by foreigners, he said.

“President Mugabe says that we will never be a colony again, but I think that we are in very real danger of being a colony, simply because of the catastrophic loss of skills from our country,” he told the audience at an event organised by the Budiriro Trust”We simply don’t have the skills to carry out projects and so rely on outsiders to do what we should be doing ourselves.

“This is such a tragedy when we have so much going for us. When I was minister I would do spot checks and travel out to a rural school with no warning. In the vast majority of cases – the vast majority – I would find the teachers there really engaging with their students, who often had no desks and were sat on a pot-holed floor.

“We have a real passion for education in our country. Representatives from both The World Bank and UNICEF have said to me ‘you have a fantastic spirit’ in Zimbabwe; when Deans of South African universities speak to me they say they are ‘enthralled’ by the graduates from our schools.”

But enthusiasm by itself is not enough and the system has been in such steep decline for the last two decades that it is now failing hundreds of thousands of children every year – and it’s getting worse, fast.
In 2012 there were 300,000 Zimbabwean children who qualified for special educational aid but were not getting it, according to Mr Coltart.

By the end of 2014 he estimates up to 1 million children could be affected in this way.

In addition, the status and pay of teachers has fallen, driving many out of the profession, the curriculum is badly out-of-date and schools across the country are crumbling for lack of maintenance.
“We all know that the future of every country in the world depends on its education system,” he says. “If an education system collapses, it doesn’t matter how many gold or platinum mines we have, we are doomed. It’s that simple.”

At the root of the crisis is a lack of funding. Although education is the largest item in the Zimbabwean budget, Mr Coltart believes the amount allocated is purely “theoretical”.
“In my last month as minister of education, in June 2013, we were running 8000 schools, 73 administrative districts, an 18-story headquarter building in Harare, with all the vehicle bills and lighting bills and other bills associated with this. To cover it all I was allocated just $20,000.

“The official budgetary amount was $3 million, but we actually received just $20,000. “Until this changes, the decline will continue. We need political will, not just in Zanu PF, but among parents, who need to dig deeper. Until this happens, the outlook is very gloomy.

“The question for government, parents and individuals is: what is our priority? Is it big Government? Is it 39 cabinet ministers with their Mercedes Benz? A large defence force that we don’t need? Or is it the education of our children?

“I’m not convinced that any of the political parties have got that yet. But the same question applies to the diaspora: are we going to spend that extra pound on a beer, or a sim card? Or are we going to invest it in our children? “I’m often amazed by the foolishness– and I know that’s a strong word – but I am amazed by the foolishness of people who can’t find $5 for their children’s education and yet they go to the pub and spend that money easily.”

Praising the work of the Budiriro Trust, Mr Coltart called on everyone to do all they could to fight for the future of the Zimbabwean education system: “Organisations like the Budiriro Trust play a critical role in identifying children with potential at O-Level and ensuring that they go on to A-level. “They will be the wealth creators of the future. You have to identify the talent and transform it; give them skills, and vision.

“Please, do what you can to support this wonderful organisation, which is run entirely by volunteers. “Imagine if all the thousands of expat Zimbabweans could give them £1 a month? Imagine what they could do? How many children they could help?” “I would ask you all to educate other Zimbabweans about the existence of the Budiriro Trust and the situation in Zimbabwe.

“Zimbabwe is a great land of opportunity for international companies to come and take our gold and platinum with very little long-term gain for us, and there is no attempt to raise local skills. This has to change.
“My time as minister gave me a completely new understanding about how important education is. “I have been left with an overriding feeling that a wonderful education system is vital to any country, but especially a developing country.

“Our future depends on realising the potential of our young people. We owe it to them to give them teachers to teach them and schools for them to learn in.”

Information on the Budiriro Trust and ways of making donations can be found on their website: http://www.budirirotrust.org/

Daily News

19th December 2014

Former Minister of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart believes Bulawayo can become Zimbabwe’s sporting capital by hosting a successful African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region Five Youth Games.

The City of Kings will stage the Games from December 4 to 14 with government pouring in close to $20 million to finance the refurbishment of faculties.

Speaking after touring the various venues to be used for the competition, Coltart revealed he had worked tirelessly during his tenure in government to bring the Games to Bulawayo.

“I was very touched by the president’s (Robert Mugabe) invite through the minister (Andrew Langa),” said Coltart.

“I’m very much encouraged by what I have seen. It wasn’t easy fighting for the venue to be Bulawayo.

“I faced a lot of challenges and discouragement from other members but I believed in Bulawayo hence I stood by the idea of Bulawayo hosting.

“This is a national event, it supersedes partisan politics. We need to unite as Zimbabweans for the successful hosting of the games. The business community must also show their support.

Coltart added: “Let’s show the whole of Africa and the world that Zimbabwe is a proud nation. I also offer my absolute commitment in whatever way possible to make these games a success. With the infrastructure that Bulawayo has I can safely say it will be a sporting capital for Zimbabwe.”

Langa also thanked Coltart for his commitment and support towards the Games. He also thanked him for fighting so that Bulawayo can host the games.

“Thank you Mr Coltart, the Games will indeed leave a legacy and you will be part of the legacy,” said Langa.

Eleven countries are set to take part in the games namely, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Seychelles, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Castle Premiership Chief Executive Officer Kenny Ndebele, who is also part of the Games’ Local Organising Committee, said that this weekend has been reserved as the national prayer weekend for the event.

“We are inviting everyone wherever they are to pray for the successful hosting of the Games,” said Ndebele.

“We are looking at all religions in the country to unite in prayer for the Games. It is very important that we also involve the religion in our effort to successfully host the Games.

“We have written letters inviting many religious houses and we expect everyone to take part. We are not looking at specific religion but we want everyone to take up.”

Sunday News

19th October 2014

Former Education, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister, Senator David Coltart has challenged the authorities to turn the late VP Joshua Nkomo’s house in Pelandaba into a tourist attraction ahead of the African Union Sports Council Region five under 20 Youth Games.

Coltart, who was behind the move to bring the games to Bulawayo, said the proximity of Father Zimbabwe’s house to White city will make it easier for some of the athletes and officials to visit the house, which has been turned into a museum.

“Umdala Nkomo’s house is close by and I believe if we market it to the athletes and officials it’s going to receive a lot of visitors, who will also get the chance to learn about the history of this country,” said Coltart.

He suggested that roads leading to the house should also be spruced up.

Coltart was taken on the tour by Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, Andrew Langa, who welcomed the suggestion and said it should be pursued.

The former Education Minister was also appointed to the games marketing committee that is headed by Kennedy Ndebele.

During the tour, Langa expressed concern over the progress of renovations at White city saying they were lagging behind with the athletics track still to be laid while the netball courts were on course to be completed before the games.

The Minister, who revealed that the tour had been requested by President Mugabe, said he was satisfied with progress at Barbourfields and the city swimming pool adding the two facilities were almost ready with the final touch is being done.

“This tour was necessitated by President Mugabe when we went for the official lighting ceremony of the games torch at State house. He said I should invite Coltart to see and appreciate his efforts because it is him who convinced Cabinet to have the games in Bulawayo,” said langa, adding: “he (Coltart) received a lot of resistance from some members of Cabinet, but he kept on pushing until the president gave him support to.”

Langa said it was time for everyone to put aside their parties in politics and work together towards a better Zimbabwe. Coltart said it was a national event that superseded political differences and that people should make a collective effort to ensure the Games’ success.

The games will feature in 11 countries from Southern Africa including host country, Zimbabwe, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Nambia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, the Seychelles, Swaziland and Zambia.

The countries will battle it out in athletics, judo, netball, football, tennis, swimming, basketball and boxing.

The Chronicle

By Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter

The former Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart, will receive red carpet treatment during the official opening of the sixth African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Games, for his unwavering stance to bring the Games to Bulawayo. The former Minister, credited by many with bringing sanity to the education sector, will sit alongside President Mugabe and other Heads of State as well as invited dignitaries.

This was announced by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Andrew Langa, who also said time had come for everyone to put aside their partisan politics and work together towards a better Zimbabwe.

Minister Langa ordered his staff to immediately send an official invitation card to Coltart.
The former Minister has also been roped into the marketing committee led by Premier Soccer League chief executive officer, Kennedy Ndebele.

Speaking at a brief press conference ,after going on a joint tour of White City and Barbourfields Stadiums and the City Pool, Minister Langa said President Mugabe asked him to invite Coltart for a tour of the venues so that he sees the fruits of his (Coltart) work.

“This tour was necessitated by President Mugabe when we went for the official lighting of the Games’ torch at State House. He said I should invite Coltart to see and appreciate his efforts because it’s him who convinced Cabinet to have the Games in Bulawayo,” said Minister Langa, flanked by Coltart.

He said Bulawayo must be proud of Coltart and indeed, President Mugabe, for bringing these Games to the city. “He received a lot of resistance from some members of Cabinet, but kept on pushing until the President gave him his support, too,” said Minister Langa.

“As late as yesterday, President Mugabe, who was in Lupane, asked me if I had invited Coltart to a tour and I didn’t want to lie to the President, so I said ‘no President, but very soon I will,’ this is why we’re here today”.

Coltart admitted that, at some point, he felt he was losing the battle to bring the Games to Bulawayo.
“I was touched by President Mugabe’s intervention because at one time I thought I was losing the battle to bring these Games to Bulawayo, but the President’s support was the final push that eventually brought these Games here. Bulawayo must appreciate the President’s bold stance,” he said.

Added Coltart: “It’s important that we show Africa and indeed, the whole world, that we can host big sporting events as Bulawayo and Zimbabwe. The corporate world must take ownership of these Games ,not just leaving everything to the government”.

The Games will be held in Bulawayo from December 4 to 15 and will be spread over eight venues.