It’s Time to Complete the Change: A New Year’s Message – 2002
In June 2001 I wrote that the political tide in Zimbabwe had turned and that the process of change was inevitable. Nothing has happened since then to alter my view except that we are now only two months away from a watershed election that will enable Zimbabweans to vote into power a man who has
David Coltart and Human Rights in Zimbabwe
Background Statement David Coltart was elected to Zimbabwe’s parliament in June 2000, representing the Bulawayo South constituency for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and became MDC spokesperson for legal affairs. For eighteen years prior to entering parliament he was an outspoken advocate for human rights and had emerged as one of the leading human
Ground Zero – 120 Broadway
A bitter wind drives The sweet acrid stench Of hateful men Deep into my soul. Sharp shards of steel Greet the eye Burnt, twisted, fragile Grotesquely straining upwards Towards what might have been – And what was. Fires burning deep within Yield papers swept away Heavenwards…. The forlorn remains Of ideas crushed. Somebody’s “vitally important”
A critique of the Zimbabwean Broadcasting Services and Political Parties (Finances) Acts
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association On the 3rd April 2001 the Zimbabwean Parliament “fast tracked” two controversial bills, namely the Broadcasting Services and Political Parties (Finance) Bills despite strenuous opposition from the Movement for Democratic Change. The Leader of the House, ZANU(PF) Minister of Justice Patrick Chinamasa went to extraordinary lengths to get both bills passed. The
Power, not land, lies at the heart of Zimbabwe’s crisis
The Daily Telegraph 10th September 2001 By Graham Boynton ROBERT MUGABE will not hand over power in Zimbabwe. Whatever promises have been made following the Abuja accord, whatever undertakings have been made about a return to the rule of law and the withdrawal of squatters and self-styled war veterans from farms “illegally occupied”, the retention
A Good Man in Africa: Vanguard of A New Zimbabwe
Robin Neilson Day One of the mayoral election in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city. David Coltart, Shadow Justice Minister and Member of Parliament for Bulawayo South, didn’t expect any particular trouble, but he rose early nonetheless, planning to vote before touring various polling locations in the area. By 7:00 a.m., the day promised to be
The whites are not the main target of the thugs
The Sunday Telegraph (UK) David Coltart, a Zimbabwe opposition leader, reveals Mugabe’s plan Zimbabwe is dangerous for everyone, but particularly for anyone who dares to criticise Robert Mugabe’s reign of terror. Like thousands of Zimbabweans, I know from personal experience what those dangers are. Just before the election here in June last year, I published
A democratically elected dictator
By Artur K. Vogel July 2001 Zimbabwe could be a rich country. Out of sheer greed President Mugabe is heading straight for disaster. “I am going to cut your balls off and I’ll chew them with pleasure, I like it when balls pop between my teeth†shouts the leader of a gang of about 40
A Message of Hope for Zimbabwe – One Year on
Almost a year ago, just after the first horrendous politically motivated murders of MDC activists and farmers had occurred, I sent out a “Message of Hope”. In it I posed the question whether there was any hope for Zimbabwe or whether it was simply destined to an inevitable slide into anarchy. One year on Zimbabweans
Mugabe poll rival is charged with inciting violence
The Daily Telegraph 17th February 2001 By David Blair in Harare ZIMBABWE’S opposition leader faced the prospect of abandoning his challenge to President Robert Mugabe and spending up to 14 years in jail after he was charged with incitement to violence yesterday. A ferocious crackdown has been launched against all opponents of Mr Mugabe, real