David Coltart
David Coltart (born 4 October 1957[1]) is a Zimbabwean lawyer, Christian leader and politician. He was a founding member of the Movement for Democratic Change when it was established in 1999 and its founding secretary for legal affairs. He was the Member of Parliament for Bulawayo South in the House of Assembly from 2000 to 2008, and he was elected to the Senate in 2008. He was the Minister for Education, Sport, Arts and Culture from February 2009 until August 2013. He is a top official of the Citizens Coalition for Change political party which was formed in 2022.[2]
David Coltart
4 October 1957
Gwelo, Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
4
Lawyer
Political career[edit]
Entry into politics[edit]
In 1983, whilst working as a lawyer, Coltart became involved in campaigning against the Republican Front, serving as campaign manager for Bob Nixon, the first independent to unseat the RF in 17 years. In 1985 he served as campaign manager for all the independent candidates contesting seats in Matabeleland. The independent candidates stood against Ian Smith's then Conservative Alliance of Zimbabwe.
In 1991 Coltart spoke out against proposed economic liberalisation, arguing that it would not work without political liberalisation.[10]
In 1992 Coltart was appointed legal adviser to the opposition Forum Party, established that year and led by Dr. Enoch Dumbutshena, Zimbabwe's first black Chief Justice. In June 1992 he drafted the Forum Party's manifesto entitled A Blueprint for Zimbabwe.[11]
In 1994 Coltart wrote an open letter to Mugabe and the church in Zimbabwe condemning corruption, human rights abuses and the failure of justice and the rule of law in Zimbabwe.[12]
In 1998 and 1999 Coltart sat on the Constitutional Drafting Committee of the National Constitutional Assembly and played a role in advocating successfully for the rejection of the government's draft constitution in the February 2000 referendum.[4]
In 1999 Coltart was asked to join the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) by trade union leader Morgan Tsvangirai who appointed him interim Legal Secretary for the party. In January 2000, at the inaugural congress of the MDC, Coltart was elected secretary for legal affairs. This position gave him the responsibility of formulating the MDC justice policy, of conducting the MDC's electoral court challenges and of organising the legal defence of MDC members who had been detained and prosecuted, including Morgan Tsvangirai's treason trial.[4]
Coltart was one of the founders and directors of Capital Radio, an independent radio station that started broadcasting on 28 September 2000 from a hotel in Harare, following a Supreme Court ruling that nullified the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation's monopoly.[13] On the evening of 4 October, Coltart's house was raided by eleven armed police looking for equipment that was allegedly in contravention of the Radio Communications Act. The police failed to produce a valid search warrant, but nevertheless conducted the search and found nothing. The houses of other directors were also searched and equipment was seized from the Radio's broadcasting premises.[14]
Other views[edit]
Coltart is against the death penalty, which is legal in Zimbabwe, and is anti-abortion.[38] Since the formation of the inclusive government in February 2009, Coltart repeatedly argued against the use of sanctions in Zimbabwe, claiming that they are ineffective and that the international community should support the transitional government as Zimbabwe's only viable non-violent route towards a more democratic society.[39] Coltart is opposed to the use of violence as a solution to the problems facing Zimbabwe, believing that political transition must occur gradually through democratic means.[40] He has also criticised the West for high levels of military spending in relation to the development assistance they give.[41] Coltart is a proponent of nuclear disarmament and is a World Council member of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (PNND).[42] Although himself a committed Christian, Coltart believes that there should be a clear separation between church and state and that the church as a body should not support a particular political party.[43] Coltart is a member of the Mont Pelerin Society.[44]