ABC Australia
By Africa correspondent Andrew Geoghegan
9th March 2008
Zimbabwe Opposition supporters who claim they have been assaulted by
pro-Mugabe militants are being warned not to retaliate.
Human rights lawyer David Coltart, who has just been re-elected as an
Opposition Senator in Zimbabwe, says President Robert Mugabe is trying to
provoke his opponents.
David Coltart spoke to our Africa correspondent Andrew Geoghegan in
Zimbabwe.
DAVID COLTART: I’ve had one report of so-called “Green Bombers” the ZANU-PF
Youth Brigade being deployed into a rural area close to Bulawayo where we
won and they are threatening people.
ANDREW GEOGHEGAN: Is this a sign of things to come, do you think?
DAVID COLTART: It is quite clear that ZANU-PF are planning something. The
silence is ominous. I am reminded of the silence that accompanied the result
in 2000 when Mugabe lost the referendum on the land issue.
There was a period of seemingly inaction followed intensive violence. So
yes, we are very concerned this is a precursor to a violent campaign.
ANDREW GEOGHEGAN: Ten days now since the election and still no result. What
is the Mugabe Government up to?
DAVID COLTART: It really is puzzling now because we have had the House of
Assembly and Senate results announced and although they took a long time,
there is no reason why the presidential results shouldn’t have been
announced.
I am beginning to wonder whether the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission hasn’t,
in fact, found a result in favour of Morgan Tsvangirai and that is why we
have got no result at all. Because there is this deafening silence and so
the silence would tend to indicate that they’ve actually lost.
ANDREW GEOGHEGAN: How would you describe the feelings of both yourself and
your supporters? Are you losing hope?
DAVID COLTART: I don’t think that we are losing hope because we understand
that we have control of the House of Assembly. We share control of the
Senate. The momentum remains with the Opposition.
We clearly seeing ZANU-PF panicking. Trying to devise a strategy to wriggle
out of this one but I don’t believe that there is any way out for them. So
whilst it is a nervous time, I think ultimately the Opposition must win.
ANDREW GEOGHEGAN: What can the Opposition now do?
DAVID COLTART: Well, the Opposition has to remain patient for a while
longer. It simply must not go to the streets in my view. That will play
right into the hands of Robert Mugabe.
ANDREW GEOGHEGAN: Is that what he wants?
DAVID COLTART: I’m sure it is what he wants. He’s boasted of having degrees
in violence. Violence is the area that he is comfortable with. That he has
the most experience in. We have to be patient. We have to go to the courts
and try to force this result out of the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission.
Once we’ve got that result, then we will know what to do. If it is a re-run,
well then we must prepare for that. If it is a victory, well, then we must
claim it.