http://www.mybulawayo.com/
April 29 2015
This week we had the privilege to catch one of the most prolific lawyers and politicians to come from Bulawayo, Senator David Coltart. He has and still is involved in various spheres of the country, in law and politics. For most people in Bulawayo, the name David Coltart may ring a bell as a Member of Parliament, then MDC Senator for Khumalo. Here is the interview we had with Senator David Coltart.
My Bulawayo (MB): Tell us a bit about yourself, who is David Coltart?
David Coltart (DC): I think most importantly in 1981 I came to faith. I believe that Jesus Christ is a man who lived two thousand years ago, that he was just more than a mere mortal, and that he makes demands of our lives. My belief that Jesus Christ is my saviour is actually core to my belief system. Secondly, I am a Zimbabwean born in Gweru. My African roots go relatively deep to 1820 and on my wife’s side even deeper. I am a proud Zimbabwean. I am a proud African. These two things inform my thinking. I believe in Jesus Christ we see the picture of a man who was humble and clearly believed in non-violence, was compassionate towards the poor and sets an incredible example for us. He is worthy of our trust. In Zimbabwe I see a beautiful country, great people with an incredible future and potential. I am really blessed to have an amazing wife who believes this too and has supported me to the core. We have four children who are a great blessing to us.
MB: What is your career position and how did you come about to work there?
DC: I returned to Zimbabwe at the end 1982 having got a Law degree from the University of Cape Town. I then started working for Webb Low & Barry in January 1983, I became a Partner in 1984, and I have been a partner since then. I became Senior Partner in 1997, which I still am. Although for the last fifteen years I have not practised law much. This decision was taken with the support of my partners, when I got into politics in late 1999. My main role was in the MDC and in its various formations. In 2009, I went into Cabinet as Minister of Education, Sports and Culture up until July 2013. Since then I have reverted to doing some law again but I retained an interest in education consultancy, am involved in international mediation, and I am writing a book. When the book is finished, I aim to return to practice law more but of course, I retain my interest in politics and that is all dependant on the Good Lord!
MB: What is the book about?
DC: It’s an autobiographical political history of the last almost sixty years on Zimbabwe.
MB: When will it be completed by?
DC: I have a publishing contract with a South African publisher and I need to send the completed manuscript to them by the end of September this year. I have made good progress on it.
MB: I can see the thought process and Jesus being your role model driving you to seek justice for people as a lawyer primarily….
DC: I had already started law when I came to faith. It wasn’t my Christian faith that drew me to law rather my father in particular. He was not a lawyer, although he would have been a good lawyer, he was a banker. He had friends who were lawyers and this saw us having robust debates in the household and this inspired me to take up law.
MB: What has been the biggest challenge for the past 32 years you have practised law?
DC: The biggest challenge has been practising law in a country where the rule of law is not respected. Its been a constant theme of my legal practice. I have had to represent clients over decades whose rights have been violated by the state. In the 1980s I represented ZAPU politicians like Joshua Nkomo, Edward Ndlovu, Welshman Mabhena, Sydney Malunga and others. They were detained and their rights violated. That has continued to the present day.
MB: What has been your biggest learning curve?
DC: I think the biggest learning experience has been not to rely on my own power and wisdom but rather to trust in God.
MB: How has that shaped you in the way you now do your work?
DC: I think in the past I would have relied a lot more on my own drive to get things done and if they didn’t go the way I wanted them to I would be more frustrated and tense – as well I would have got a lot more anxious. Whereas I now understand that God’s timing is very different to man’s timing. Trials are part of the Christian walk and witness, which is far from this false gospel, which is currently propagated in many churches throughout Zimbabwe – namely the so called health, wealth and prosperity gospel. This is not the story of Jesus. Jesus’ life was one marked by many trials and his life ultimately was sacrificed on the cross. We are called to participate in those sufferings. I apply this in my work now. Obtaining things must be through hard work, not through any quick fix.
MB: The work ethic we now see in Zimbabwe and people relying more on corruption than hard work, how do you think we should deal with it?
DC: I think it’s sad actually to see this get-rich-quick syndrome and it’s been a blight on our country. Unfortunately, it starts from top government officials; this practice that you can get rich quick through corruption. This has also been seen in the church, which is meant to be a beacon of hope, where we see church leaders becoming obscenely rich on the back of a very poor congregation. This actually destroys the church and a nation. The best nations, the strongest nations, are built on hard work, honesty, innovation and ingenuity.
MB: Moreover, Zimbabwe seems to be at a point whereby hard work and ingenuity do not pay but corruption pays more.
DC:The key question for every nation is “What new wealth is being generated, what new wealth is being made? Not what wealth can I acquire for myself from the wealth of others?†Most of the seriously wealthy people in this country have not made their wealth through their own innovation but by simply acquiring, even stealing, other people’s wealth.
MB: What is one thing that you think people do not realise about your role as a Zimbabwean politician?
DC: Well I think from the political perspective, particularly in ZANU PF there has always been an assumption that I have “a white person’s agenda†because I am white. They think I want to bring back Rhodesia, which is false. My vision for Zimbabwe is one Zimbabwe for all. I think that Rhodesia was a deeply flawed nation and the injustices which abounded then are still causing problems today. No person in his or her right mind would ever want that back. My vision is a nation of meritocracy, where hard work is recognised and rewarded irrespective the person’s background. From the other end, namely from within those who oppose ZANU PF, I have worked with people who believe you have to meet fire with fire and fight against them. There are those opposed to ZANU who believe in employing violence. Not only is this morally wrong for me as a Christian but it is practically foolish. I believe in the example of Christ, who, on the cross, had all the power at His disposal but chose not to use it; but His purposes where achieved as we see 2000 years later. He was utterly committed to the use of non-violence. Also practically, even if you are not religious and do not believe in Jesus Christ, I think it’s wrong to fight any opponent playing to their strength. Hence I think its wrong to try to use violence to overthrow the current regime.
MB: Tell us a bit about your family?
DC: As I have pointed before I have a wonderful wife and we been married 32years. She is Zimbabwean born in Bulawayo, we met at UCT. She is a physiotherapist. We have four children, two daughters and two sons; we have achieved gender balance in our family! We are fortunate that all our children love the Lord and are committed to Africa as well. I think the next generation of Coltarts may even have a greater role in shaping Zimbabwe than I have had.
MB: How do you balance work life and personal life?
DC: Time management is critical and time discipline as well. If you can’t manage your diary you will not get much done. Setting priorities is very important, and I have gotten better at this. My wife would often talk to me about my habit of doing things that were ‘shoulds’ and not ‘coulds’. You have to decide what you can achieve not necessarily what you should achieve. Part of this is understanding the balance you need to achieve in life. It is like constructing a building, if you do not have a solid foundation; you might built the most beautiful building or edifice but at the first earthquake it will fall down. Fundamentally, my faith disciplines with God, prayer, and the reminding of God’s standards though reading the bible helps. Family is also a critical foundation, my relationship with my wife and children in particular. Lastly keeping physically fit helps to keep me mentally alert.
MB: Words of advice to any people aspiring to take up a similar role as you?
DC: I would say a variety of things. Firstly, make sure your foundation is secure. Know what you believe in to make sure you not blown by every wind. Understand what your vision is, what your goals are. If you do not know what you destination is you will take many unnecessary detours and end up wondering where you are. Finally, if your vision is selfish you will find it very dissatisfying. My wife and I felt called back to Zimbabwe and our vision was to contribute to make this country great. We have never wavered in pursuing that vision and we realised it cannot be achieved by anything other than a life journey. We understood this from Christ’s example that life can be a long struggle but we should not get frustrated; it is a marathon not a sprint.
MB: Thank you very much David for your time, we really appreciate it.
DC: Pleasure.