ZBC (Zimbabwe Broadcasting Authority)
5 July 2011
Sporting enthusiasts say the failure by the Minister of Education, Arts, Sport and Culture in welcoming FIFA president, Sepp Blatter at the Harare International Airport and during the visit to the ZIFA Village by the world soccer governing body chief is confirmation that Mr. David Coltart is out of touch with developments and challenges affecting his Ministry.
Senator Coltart’s commitment to duty has once again been questioned by Zanu-PF sports fans following the Minister’s failure to receive the FIFA chief on his arrival in Zimbabwe this Monday morning.
Mr. Coltart was also conspicuously absent during Blatter’s tour of the ZIFA Village.
Sources who spoke to government media on condition of anonymity said Senator Coltart has never set his foot at the ZIFA Village which has been facing challenges for many years since its establishment.
This they say does not augur well for a man entrusted with running the country’s sports portfolio.
Of late Senator Coltart had been conspicuous by his absence in many sporting disciplines, preferring to attend events such as cricket and golf which are favoured by whites.
Minister Coltart, who only went for lunch with Sepp Blatter, denied the accusations pointing out that he has given a lot of support to ZIFA.
ZBC has however also been informed that Senator Coltart attended the luncheon only in a bid to facilitate a meeting between Prime Minister and MDC-T leader Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai and the FIFA president.
Mr. Coltart’s role as the Minister of Education, Arts, Sport and Culture has also been a cause of concern for those in the arts and culture industry, with many accusing Senator Coltart of failing to properly manage portfolios in his Ministry.
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Note by Senator David Coltart inserted on the 8th July 2011:
This is one of the crudest examples of Zanu PF propaganda effected through the ZBC. They conveniently ignore that I have been working with the new ZIFA Board since its election last year and in particular have been trying to get an indaba organised to address major financial issues facing ZIFA. The ZBC has largely ignored major improvements in education, sport, arts and culture in the last two years as no doubt that would be contrary to instructions it has received from a rival political party, namely Zanu PF.  Regarding this particular allegation the fact is that I could not be at the airport to greet the President of FIFA on Monday morning because ironically Air Zimbabwe has cancelled most of its flights between Bulawayo and Harare and the only flight I could get up was on Monday evening – so I had to drive up to Harare that morning which meant missing the arrival of Mr Blatter. I spent a very productive day with Mr Blatter, as evidenced by the letter received from President of FIFA Mr Blatter on the 7th July 2011 attached below, and have no doubt that FIFA will as a result give further support to Zimbabwe.
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Senator David Coltart
Minister of Education, Sport, Art and Culture
Harare
Zimbabwe
Zurich, 7 July
Dear David,
Now that I have returned to Zurich, I would like to say how very pleased I was to meet you during my visit and thank you on behalf of the FIFA delegations for the unforgettable memories we have brought back with us from Zimbabwe, as well as the new friendships we made and the wholehearted hospitality that the Zimbabwean people showed us during our visit on 4 and 5 July 2011.
We enjoyed so many highlights in your company in the space of just a few hours, culminating in the wonderful 2011 COSAFA Women’s Championship match between Zimbabwe and Malawi and the inauguration of the football turf pitch at the Rufaro Stadium.
The new concept of the ZIFA village, which will be completed as part of the FIFA Goal I and II development programmes and which Zimbabwean football will be so proud of, will no doubt help to promote the development of football in your country. Thank you for your support in realising this vision and for your contribution to promoting the values of our sport, such as respect, discipline, team spirit, solidarity and fair play, and making football a real school of life.
I also wish to mention the memorable moments spent at the delicious lunch and dinner that we shared with representatives of the government and the football family at the Rainbow Towers hotels and the Amanzi restaurant respectively.
Finally, I would like to wish you every success in your work to develop education and sport in your country.
Looking forward to seeing you again soon,
Yours sincerely,
Joseph S. Blatter