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.
On November 5, 2001 Ken Nkala, the Chairman of the War Veterans Association, was abducted. Mr. Coltart was in New York City at this time and when he returned on November 11, 2001, the ZRP stated on television that they believed a white legislator was behind Nkala’s disappearance. They accused Mr. Coltart and promised retribution.
On November 12, 2001, Mr. Coltart’s close friend and former Campaign Manager Simon Spooner, was arrested and accused of being involved with Nkala’s disappearance. Mr. Spooner was held in solitary confinement for 5 weeks in deplorable conditions. On November 13, 2001 Mr. Nkala’s body was found in a shallow grave. Mr. Spooner was never charged and completely denies any involvement in Mr. Nkala’s disappearance or death. Mr. Coltart and Mr. Spooner state that they are intentionally targeted and intimidated because they are well known in Zimbabwe and are outspokenly critical of the ZANU-PF government.
On November 14, 2001 Mr. Coltart attempted to return to Bulawayo from a Parliamentary session in Harare, when soon after his plane left Harare it was ordered by the ZRP and CIO to return. Once landed back in Harare, the plane was surrounded by three truckloads of armed ZRP and CIO officers. When Mr. Coltart exited the plane he was told he was under investigation and was held for 2 hours. They would not tell Mr. Coltart what he was under investigation for. Once released Mr. Coltart arranged to drive back to Bulawayo. On his way Mr. Coltart received information that hundreds of ZRP officers, armed with petrol, were on their way to his home in Bulawayo. He telephoned his wife and had her gather their children and they fled the home. The ZRP was diverted and did not attend at Mr. Coltart’s home that night. As a result of the harassment by the ZRP, CIO, and ZANU-PF supporters towards Mr. Coltart and his family, the citizens of Bulawayo spontaneously responded – in support of Mr. Coltart – by burning down a ZRP bus.
On February 16, 2002 at 4:00 p.m. Mr. Coltart and his family left their home to collect their eldest daughter at a friend’s birthday party. Mr. Coltart was advised there were members of the Youth Brigade in the neighbourhood destroying vehicles. Mr. Coltart saw approximately 60 youths in the neighbourhood and decided to take an alternate route to the birthday party. They collected their daughter and proceeded to return home, when they realized that both roads leading to their home were barricaded by approximately 100 youths. Mr. Coltart turned around and reported this to the ZRP, which he later describes as a bad decision. He was fearful for his family’s safety. Mr. Coltart drove his family to a friend’s home and returned with one of his friends. The youth dispersed and Mr. Coltart re-collected his family and returned home.
At 7:30 p.m. that evening, one truckload of ZRP officers arrived at Mr. Coltart’s home stating they were responding to a report. The officers then left without further questions or investigation.
At 8:15 p.m. that evening three truckloads of armed police and CIO officers arrived at Mr. Coltart’s home in a very threatening manner. They alleged that he shot at a youth. Mr. Coltart denied the allegations and asked what the specific circumstances of the allegations were, to which the officers would not respond. The officers wanted to search the home and Mr. Coltart refused claiming they had no warrant. The officers left and stated they would be returning to get him.
He immediately collected his family and went into hiding. The officers returned the following days only to find Mr. Coltart not there. On Monday, Mr. Coltart, along with his lawyer, went to the police station, where he was detained and charged with discharging a firearm in a public place. Mr. Coltart does not own a firearm. He was then driven in a police buggy through the centre of Bulawayo in a form of public humiliation while the police searched his home. Nothing was found.
Mr. Coltart was taken to Court that afternoon and the prosecution wanted Mr. Coltart to surrender his travel documents. He was released on cash bail. The case was remanded over to numerous court appearances. The prosecution eventually stayed the charges in June 2003 following a direction by a Magistrate that the trial must proceed forthwith.
In April 2002, the MDC party received credible information that a plan was being orchestrated to assassinate Mr. Coltart.
In August 2002, President Mugabe addressed the country on television and stated, “the likes of the Bennett’s and Coltart’s don’t belong here and if they choose to remain they shall be in prison”.
In November 2002, Mr. Coltart discovered that his vehicle’s brake line was cut, resulting in the vehicle having no brakes.
On March 3, 2003, Mr. Coltart discovered that the inside rear left tire of his vehicle had been burned to the point that driving on it would have resulted in a tire explosion and accident.
On March 15, 2003 at 9:00 a.m. Mr. Coltart, along with his 9-year-old son and 18-month-old daughter, left their home to drive to a children’s sports day. As he left the driveway he noticed another vehicle parked a few yards away with three men inside and what looked to be a weapon. Mr. Coltart became suspicious and waited until the vehicle left the area. When Mr. Coltart approached a nearby intersection, he noticed the vehicle was behind him. He took an alternate route and sped up, only to see that this vehicle was following him closely at high speeds. Mr. Coltart telephoned his security team immediately. They arranged to have Mr. Coltart drive pass a church parking lot near a friend’s home. When he passed the church his security team entered the road and blocked the pursuing vehicle. Mr. Coltart drove to the friend’s home, passed and entered their security gate. Mr. Coltart’s security team organized others to attend at the home and soon after they arrived, the vehicle in that was in pursuit eventually left the area. As a result of this incident Mr. Coltart went into hiding for 2 weeks.