Coltart, David; Bulawayo South Candidate 2000
Inter-parliamentary Union
In May 2000 when Mr. Coltart attempted to register his candidacy for the MDC party, the Registrar General attempted to bar his nomination claiming he was a British citizen and therefore, ineligible to be nominated. Mr. Coltart was required to prove he was not a British citizen and was a Zimbabwean citizen.
In June 2000, approximately 1 week before the election, Mr. Coltart was warned that his home would be burned. This did not occur. At the same time ten of Mr. Coltart’s polling agents were held and detained illegally for 24 hours by War Veterans where they were lectured and threatened for supporting the MDC party.
On June 19, 2000 at 5:00 p.m., in the presence of his wife and children, 5 War Veterans abducted Patrick Nabanyama, one of Mr. Coltart’s polling agents. A report was made to police. Mr. Nabanyama has never been seen again and is feared dead.
In August 2000, Mr. Coltart was responsible for filing legal papers in Mr. Tsvgangirai’s, President of the MDC Party, impeachment trial. President Mugabe responded publicly on television by attacking Mr. Coltart personally and stating that there was no place for Mr. Coltart in Zimbabwe.
On October 4, 2000 approximately 14-armed ZRP and CIO officers raided Mr. Coltart’s home. Mr. Coltart’s sons (aged 8 and 10) were the only ones home. They were threatened. When Mr. Coltart’s wife arrived home, she managed to keep them out of the home until Mr. Coltart arrived. Upon arrival, the officers showed Mr. Coltart a warrant, illegal obtained, which permitted a search of his home for broadcasting equipment, aircraft, boats, and safes. The home was searched and nothing was found.