Herald
8 December 2010
By Nqobile Moyo in BULAWAYO
MDC secretary for legal affairs and Senator for Bulawayo’s Khumalo constituency, Mr David Coltart, has tipped Zanu-PF to win the elections scheduled for next year.
Mr Coltart joins other former opposition figures in tipping Zanu-PF to win the elections set for next June.
Political scientist Dr John Makumbe and Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Mr Raymond Majongwe have recently been quoted expressing doubts on the MDC formations’ chances of winning any election in Zimbabwe.
Mr Coltart said other parties could only dislodge the former liberation movement if they were united, but was quick to point that such a development was unlikely under the present circumstances.
Addressing party supporters at the Presbyterian Church at Hillside Shopping Centre on Monday evening, Mr Coltart admitted that Zanu-PF was stronger and warned that if small parties fail to join hands with either of the two MDC formations, there was no way they could win against Zanu-PF.
“We are likely to gift to Zanu-PF Â the forthcoming elections if parties do not accommodate each other,” said Mr Coltart.
“All parties need to compromise and enter into a coalition so that we unseat Zanu-PF.”
Mr Coltart, however, said the country was not ready for elections and stated that focus should be on the constitution-making process.
“This is not the right time for elections but time for constitution-making process. The constitution-making process needs to follow its course.
“After the successful constitution-making meetings there should be a referendum then the constitution has to be taken to Parliament,” he said.
Mr Coltart said that formed the basis for elections.
He bemoaned the 2005 MDC split, which he said was a gift to Zanu-PF.
President Mugabe is on record, as saying the constitution-making process should be concluded within the lifespan of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) to facilitate for elections mid next year.
The President, who is the Head of State and Government as well as the Commander-In-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces said he was uncomfortable with the GPA, whose lifespan expires in February next year.
However, the two MDC formations have developed cold feet on the coming polls.