His Worship David Coltart, the newly elected CCC Mayor of the City of Bulawayo, has announced that he will not be buying a new mayoral car for the next 5 years!
"I came here using a car which has been used by the council for the past nine years, that car is enough for the whole of my term, I'm not going to get a new car for the next five years, unless we have enough ambulances," said Coltart.
"How can we have new cars whilst we have only five ambulances instead of 30, we only have four fire engines and six refuse trucks and we need the minimum of 11. So, it starts with me and it needs to reflect in you.”
A grand gesture from the Mayor and this is not the first time that Coltart has done this. When he was appointed Minister of Education in the 2008 to 2013 GNU, he refused to take his allocated ministerial car. He accepted all the other benefits including the generous salary and allowances, the fuel allocation, globe trotting, etc.!
What is most notable about MDC leaders during the GNU is that they were all busy enjoying the trappings of high office they forgot about implementing the democratic reforms, the number one task entrusted to them during the GNU. Their greed was so obvious that Zanu PF cronies openly mocked the MDC leaders.
“Mazivanhu eMDC adzidza kudya anyerere!” (MDC leaders have learned to quietly enjoy the gravy train good-life; they will never rock the boat!) Zanu PF boasted when they were asked why MDC was not implementing the democratic reforms.
True enough, MDC leaders did not rock the GNU boat: they failed to implement even one token reform in five years. Not even one token reform!
When SADC leaders realised the 2013 elections were going ahead with no reforms implemented; they advised MDC leader not to participate in the elections until reforms were implemented. The wise council fell on deaf ears. David Coltart was one of the MDC leaders who have since admitted of the sheer futility of participating in these flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy and thus perpetuating the dictatorship and the failed state which is Zimbabwe today!
“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the (2013) elections,” confessed Coltart in his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.
“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”
No doubt, Mayor Coltart must have tried to persuade his fellow MDC/CCC leaders on the the sheer insanity of participating in these flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy. When he discovered there were no takers, for exactly the reasons the MDC leaders had ignored SADC leaders to implement the reforms during the GNU - greed and breath-taking incompetence - Coltart throw in the towel. He joined the rest of the opposition in participating in rigged elections out of greed.
Zimbabwe would have been transformed into a healthy and functioning democratic nation by 2013, at the latest, if MDC leaders had implemented the democratic reforms. We are still a failed state stuck with this corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship because the regime has been rigging the elections thanks to MDC leaders’ betrayal on reforms.
Mayor Coltart and his CCC friends participated in these 2023 elections knowing fully well that doing so would give the election process “credibility” and thus give Zanu PF political legitimacy. (The SADC and AU election observers have since dismiss the election process as a sham and thus denying Zanu PF political legitimacy, regardless of the full house Zimbabwe opposition’s participation.)
Like it or not the city of Bulawayo will not buy the required 25 ambulances, fire engines, etc. from the money saved from buying a new mayoral car. What the city and the nation needs is an end to this corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship but for that to happen we must implement the democratic reforms and end the curse of rigged elections and bad governance. At the present moment the greatest impediment to implementing reforms is none other than the MDC/CCC leaders who have sold out on reforms out of greed.
How ironic that Mayor David Coltart is denied himself the mayoral car and is making a big song and dance about it. Meanwhile he and his fellow CCC leaders continue participating in these flawed elections to perpetuate the failed state and the tragic human suffering it has brought out of selfish greed!
Mayor Coltart and his CCC leaders are now nothing but the disease carrying fleas, the anaesthetic in their bite in not for the victim’s benefit but the bug’s - it will gorge itself unperturbed!
28 comments:
There is no difference between a transitional government, GNU, NTA, etc. except in name. All those serving in the arrangement are appointed and not elected in a democratic universal suffrage. Focus on what you want the body to do and make sure competent individuals are appointed who will deliver.
@ David
“The last GNU was MDC and not CCC. So give them a chance.”
In your opinion, is the Zanu PF “Second Republic” different from the Mugabe led Zanu PF?
Is CCC different from MDC A or MDC-T, MDC-N or MDC?
Is a cobra that has just shed off its old coat different from the yesterday’s cobra?
The answer to all the three questions is Yes, of course! The cobra will certainly look more slick in its new coat. Both CCC and Zanu PF Second Republic have too shed off some individuals and replaced them with new faces.
But if you were a rat of hare, you would know a cobra is just deadly with or without his old shaggy coat and so will answer no!
Both CCC and Zanu PF Second Republic are just as corrupt, incompetent and, for the latter add, tyrannical as the forerunner version. CCC has participated in these flawed and illegal 2023 elections, for example, to give Zanu PF legitimacy out of greed.
But more significantly in terms of their qualification or otherwise to be in the new GNU, there is nothing, absolutely nothing that both Zanu PF and CCC leaders have said or done to show they can now be trusted to implement the democratic reforms. Zanu PF maintains these 2023 elections were free, fair and credible. If Chamisa was declared the winner CCC would be demanding that the SADC and AU reports must be thrown away.
To suggest that Zanu PF and CCC show be given another chance to be in the GNU (you cannot have one without the other) is as naive and foolhardy as a hare thinking a slick looking cobra is harmless! In our case it will be is insane!
@ Usanga
“A GNU is distinct from a NTA. If zanu and ccc, being the largest political parties who dominate parliament, are not part of the GNU, then who should be in it?”
The country needs a NTA precisely because these 23 August 2023 elections were so flawed and illegal they failed to produce a legitimate winner and government. These serving in the NTA are appointed not elected and so any one can be appointed into that body regardless of political affiliations.
Indeed, both Zanu PF and CCC were in the last government and they failed to ensure the elections are free, fair and credible. To appoint the same failed individual into the NTA is tantamount to rewarding them with five more years in power for their treasonous betrayal!
The reforms are not complex and one does not have to be a rocket scientist to implementing them. Zanu PF and MDC/CCC have failed to get even one token reforms implemented in all these years out of greed and/or incompetence.
@ Force
You have no clue what the reforms are much less how they are implemented. So don't pretend to know what the GNU was about!
@ Bishop
“This guy, you simply imply that people don't learn anything from previous mistakes therefore cannot improve anything. You really think the CCC guys formerly in 2008 GNU under MDC don't even see what failures happened then. Come on. Move on.”
How naive! So why is Zimbabwe still a failed state?
There are cynical ploys and David Coltart’s “I will not use rate-payers money to buy myself a mayoral limousine” is the mother of cynical ploys particularly when he and his CCC friends are the ones perpetuating Zanu PF dictatorship out of greed!
Mayor Coltart musarova imbwa akavinga mupini! Hatisi tose mapedzi.
https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-opinion-sc-columnist-byo-235663.html
@ Klilto click
“This news article discusses the decision of David Coltart, the newly elected CCC Mayor of the City of Bulawayo, to forgo purchasing a new mayoral car for the next five years. The article highlights Coltart’s commitment to prioritising essential services over luxury items, pointing out the city’s need for more ambulances, fire engines, and refuse trucks.
It also touches on Coltart’s past actions, such as refusing to take his allocated ministerial car during his tenure as Minister of Education in the 2008 to 2013 GNU. The article critiques the MDC leaders’ involvement in elections without implementing necessary democratic reforms, emphasising the need for such reforms in Zimbabwe.
In summary, the article applauds Mayor Coltart’s decision to save funds for crucial services but criticises the broader issue of Zimbabwean opposition leaders participating in elections without pushing for essential reforms.”
Spot on! The single most point here is that Zimbabwe would not be a failed state if we cured ourselves of the curse of rigged elections. It is cynical that Mayor Coltart should be parodying the minuscule saving to be made by him gave up one or two of his gravy train benefits but does not say of the humongous loses suffering his continued stay on the gravy train is costing the whole nation.
Coltart KNOWS that these elections are “so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw”, and yet continues to do so out of greed! He is taking advantage of the naive and gullible electorate who really do not understand that MDC/CCC leaders are sell out and have long stopped running with the povo hare to hunt with the Zanu PF hounds!
@ P Ncube
“Wilbert, learn to give credit to where it is due. This stick and carrot attack on Coltart removes noble activism in you!”
I beg to differ!
Most people would agree that Winston Church was a great WW2 war leader. And yet he lost the 1945 British election. Why?
Most people would also agree that the Labour party have a better national plan to take the nation forward than the Conservative party.
One of the weaknesses in Zimbabwe is blind loyalty to individuals so much so they see what they want to see and not what is there. MDC leaders failed to implement even one token reform in 23 years, 5 of which in the GNU. Worse still they have given up on implementing reforms to participate in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy out of greed. These are the historic facts and what is more CCC leaders like Coltart and honest enough to admit it.
“The (2013) electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility,” confessed David Coltart in his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.
“Learn to give credit to where it is due!” Sure, I want to learn; point out the achievements.
But please don’t not insult my intelligence by telling me Coltart’s giving up of the mayoral limo is worth the price of the nation has paid for perpetuating the Zanu PF dictatorship and the fail state!
The one task before us today is to implement the democratic reforms and get the nation out of this hell-hole. After countless wasted opportunities and treasonous betrayals it will be insane to waste this opportunity too. Reforms and free, fair and credible election - that is the big price! Keep your eyes on the ball!
@ Arthur Mntungwa
“Wonder why he himself doesn't take the lead instead of being an armchair critic. Quite a sickening individual!”
Well you have dismissed most things here on trivial grounds of tribe, sex, armchair critic, etc., etc. I have said this to you umpteen times and will say it again here: truth, facts, reality and substance can come from anyone regardless of their tribe, race, etc. Focus on what was said or done and not on who said it, whether he/she was sitting on an armchair or a drum.
There is nothing special in you being a Ndebele just as there is nothing for me to be ashamed of just because I am Shona. But my being Shona “sicken” you! That is your problem not mine. As for me I have dismissed you tribal hatred with the contempt it rightly deserves and focused on the substantive challenges this nation is facing!
@ Cliff
“Opposition within an Opposition unotozvishaya...kuti muswe ndeupi? Kumberi ndekupi.”
So if the ordinary citizens cannot hold the opposition to account for failing to carry out their duty of holding the ruling party to democratic account, who will do it?
The people of Zimbabwe have risked all to elect MDC/CCC leaders into power for the express purpose of implementing the democratic reforms to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections. They have not only failed to implement even one reform but, worse still, they have now given up on reforms and settled for participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy for the sake of a few gravy train seats.
MDC/CCC leaders are now running with the povo hare and hunting with the Zanu PF hounds and hence the reason why they have not implemented even one token reform in 23 years. Worst of all, they are not going to implement any reforms.
You are advocating that the ordinary people should say nothing to avoid “opposition within the opposition”. The truth is MDC/CCC have ceased fighting in the people’s corner, they are running with the povo hare and hunting with the Zanu PF hounds, you are too dum to realise this.
Zimbabwe is a failed state because we have corrupt and incompetent buffoons as leaders, this is the obvious reason. What is not so obvious is that we have millions of village idiots who hardly know their left from the right, so naive they are conned into giving up their right to free elections because the opposition said they have winning in rigged elections strategies. It is the village idiots who are keeping the buffoons in power and perpetuating the fail state.
You don’t even know what is in your interest and thus given to shoot from the hip. MDC/CCC have stopped serving povo and you still think they are on your side. There is really nothing more dangerous than some one blubbering on matters they know nothing about. That is you!
What I find really surprising is you are angry that I have repeatedly warned elections would be rigged if we do not implement reforms but are indifferent to the reality Zanu PF has just rigged these 2023 elections. You are indifferent tp 43 years of rigged elections and the nation sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss. No wonder the country is in a mess we have some shockingly dum people! FCUK me!
Yes and he said nothing about Zanu PF rigging the elections when the failure to hold free and fair elections is the reason why the country s stuck with a corrupt and tyrannical regime!
@ Nyariemhungu
“When he was minister ku education haaa things were 'supper' he was very vibrant in that sector not current nonsense.”
What was the primary purpose of he 2008 to 2013 GNU?
Answer: to implement the democratic reforms. Coltart and company failed to implement even one token reform in 5 years and all because of greed.
Coltart himself admitted on the sheer futility of participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy and advocated boycotting the elections. He could not get his fellow mDC/CCC friends to boycott the elections out of greed.
Zimbabwe is stuck in this hell-on earth because we have buffoons in positions of power and authority on both sides of the political divide - that is the obvious reason. The not so obvious reason is that we have some of the most naive, gullible and ignorant voters on earth who, in their, stupidity are keeping the buffoons in power to perpetuate their (the ordinary people) own suffering.
David Coltart has been participating in elections, “so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw” to give Zanu PF legitimacy and perpetuate the failed state. He tell the village idiots he will not buy a mayoral limo but will have all the other gravy train perks and worst of all perpetuate the Zanu PF dictatorship and the village idiots are agog with joy!
Ignorance and stupidity is a curse to those with the intellect to comprehend the shortcoming and their devastating consequence. When all you know is the consequences, just as a tree or animal starving during a drought without ever knowing what cause the drought, you are blissfully spared the frustrations felt by those who see the whole picture!
“When he was minister ku education haaa things were ‘supper’!” Of course, they were. There we are, you will never see anyone more blissfully happy and contented! It is a blessing to be a simpleton and thick as a brick wall - impermeable to reason and reality!
There is no excuse for people to be so naive and gullible they do not believe their own eyes! The was no excuse for believing Chamisa's nonsense about pluggng every vote rigging hole, for example, when the people can see the blatant cases of vote rigging going on all the time!
@ Osama23
Calling for reforms is far better than those saying we don't need reforms and telling people lies that they have winning in rigged elections strategies. And you have been cheering and applauding the sell outs and denouncing those sounding the warning and claim you are wiser than King Solomon. Wiser than King Solomon indeed!
@ Baba Sama
“Ive never seen such useless Zimbabwean asi this guy wilbert .. his hatred kuna Chamisa haa yakanyanya ..”
I have criticised Chamisa and his MDC friend for selling out on reforms and participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy out of greed. If MDC had implemented the reforms Zimbabwe would be a healthy and functioning democracy right now.
I realise that there are many Zimbabweans out there who have no clue what reforms are much less how they are implemented. Even now with the benefit of hindsight, they still have no clue. And so they will never blame MDC/CCC leaders for selling out on reforms, who can they blame Chamisa and company for failing to implement reforms when they do know that these reforms are!
Chamisa told the wildebeest herd he had plugged all the vote rigging holes and there was evidence everywhere you looked that Zanu PF was rigging the elections. There was not even something as basic as a verified voters’ roll, for Pete’s. I pointed out these things and the herd’s reaction was to accuse me of hating Chamisa and worse.
Of course Chamisa and company are sell outs, Zanu PF rigged the elections, CCC participated out of greed, the brain of the herd ossified into fat you cannot reason with them, etc., etc. The very fact that Zimbabwe is fail state and is not likely to get out of this mess are the consequence of all these realities.
I am not going to lose sleep because Baba Sama call me “useless” and accused me of hating Chamisa. You are just one of the wildebeest herd who hardly know their left hand from the right because their spend most of their time with their heads up Chamisa’s backside!
For a healthy and functioning democracy everyone has a duty to hold those in public office to democratic account. You will never ever understand the difference between hating someone and holding them to democratic account. Never ever! You are simply do not have the intellectual ability to grasp such subtleties. It is not your fault; the spirit is willing but the intellect is lacking!
What keeps me awake is the realisation that Zimbabwe has more than her fair share of brain dead citizens and they have the vote. Universal suffrage should have been a blessing but, like with so many other things in Africa, it is now a curse!
@ Osama23
“No one is saying we don't need reforms
It's a figment of your own imagination
We all want reforms and you don't call for reforms while sitting your arse behind a computer
Pagoda ground work jot propaganda dzako idzi dzeku**ra.”
I would have expected King Solomon, with his renowned wisdom, would have admitted that MDC/CCC sold out by failing to implement the democratic reforms. But you Osama23, the man who claims to be wiser than King Solomon, have not only denied MDC/CCC sold out but have been defending them and even denigrating those of us who dared to differ. It is not all who claim to be wise who are wise; you Osama23 are NOT as smart as you think and claim to be!
I am not interested in syntax MDC/CCC have failed to implement even one reform in 23 years and have been participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy. I have been holding them to democratic account for this and you are insisting that is complaining. Call you it whatever you like, I am not concerned about such trivial details!
@ Big Fish
“Nhai Wilbert ,aunete neChorus yako...Electoral reforms were part of the Reforms,Inga Zanu yakaramba kuti ZEC i e independent.. further more vakarba kuti Chigumba naSlaigwana vabviswe,Access to media for all parties were also part of the Reforms but Dead BC ine monopoly...saka iwe unoti most people don't know about the reforms why?wakambonyanyo funda zvakaita sei?sei uchida kuzviita MAZIVA ZVOSE BUS Service?”
We have been over most of this ground in the past and you did not understand it and will not understand it now and so I will not bother explaining.
I am sick and tired of 43 years of rigged elections more than I am of calling for reforms. I know you are sick and tired of hearing about reforms and rigged elections are all water off a duck’s back - you have failed to understand reforms, grade 1 stuff, how can you understand rigged elections rocket science to a simpleton like you.
This is wishful thinking. As soon as ANC get Zanu PF safely back in power the regime will adopt anti-foreign laws and allow vigilantes to do as they please in the party's desperate effort to win back the votes. ANC is bending over backwards to keep Zanu PF in power and will bend over double to keep Zimbabweans running away from the Zanu PF failed state out of SA! There will be nothing you or me can do to stop this!
The good news:
Ramaphosa confirm that SADC will meet to discuss the SADC election observer mission's report on Zimbabwe.
The bad news:
Whilst the SADC and AU reports condemned the elections as flawed and illegal, institutional and country wide. Ramaphosa is seeking to water down the flaws as merely "challenges that have occurred the world over." How can the failure to produce something as basic as a verified voters' roll be a mere challenge!
ANC is hell bent on granting Zanu PF political legitimacy and we are but pawns in its political game. This must be resisted!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoXUuGKWuR4
Even you, Chief Svosve, have to now admit that we would NOT be messing around with rigged elections and petitions if MDC/CCC had not sold out and implemented the democratic reforms. After 23 years, including 5 in the GNU, and MDC/CCC have failed to implement even one token reform!
How many times has MDC/CCC been warned that without reforms, Zanu PF would rig the elections. You and your Change Radio insisted CCC was going to win big. What happened?
@ Samshine
“I don't see how the comparison between what happened in America and what happened in Zimbabwe can be called idiotic. Last I checked we are all humans.
Unless one is suggesting that America's conduct must not be questioned, which would truly be idiotic.”
The vote rigging that Trump alleged were never proven. The vote rigging in Zimbabwe were contemptuous disregard of the law, at the institutional level and affect all the voters. It is nonsensical to expect free and fair elections when you do not even have a verified voters’ roll not just in one ward or constituency but in all the constituencies nation wide. Of course, it is idiotic to call such serious flawed and illegalities merely challenges and to compare what happened in Zimbabwe with what happened in the USA.
@ Baba Sama
Zimbabwe is a failed state because we have failed to hold free, fair and credible elections. The task of implementing the reforms is meant to accomplish this important task and MDC/CCC wasted the opportunity to implement the reforms. You have failed to understand what the reforms are much less how they are implemented.
Of course, you have never blamed MDC/CCC for selling out of reforms; how can you blame them for not doing something you have no clue what it is. All efforts to explain what the reforms are have accomplished nothing - you are too thick to understand any of this stuff.
You trouble is you think you know about reforms, etc. and, worst of all, believe Chamisa knows best and so always start frothing and fuming to hear anyone question him. Chamisa assured the nation he had plugged all the vote rigging holes but we all know these elections were rigged. Instead of you questioning his lies you pretend he never said any such things.
Chamisa and his CCC friends are holding public office and, per se, are accountable to the public - that is not negotiable. Just get that into your empty head and stop making a complete idiot of yourself commenting on issues you clearly do understand.
@ Fatso
Zimbabwe is a failed state for two reasons:
1) we have corrupt and incompetent buffoons, on both sides of the political divide, in positions of power and authority
2) we have village idiots who have elected and kept the buffoons in power.
You plea for an open and honest discussion is wasted, village idiots have no respect for facts, truth and reality. They do not have the intellectual capacity to comprehend any of these human qualities because their brains have ossified into fat after generations of sloth-like mental slumber.
Indeed, the suggestion for rational debate is so alien to the wildebeest herd you will be label a CIO or worse! Watch out!
Zimbabwe is a failed state because the country has failed to hold free, fair and credible elections. SADC and AU condemned the 23 August 2023 as flawed and illegal and yet Mnangagwa restated his claim that the elections were free, fair and credible. We really need to cure ourselves of this curse of rigged elections and Zanu PF must not be allowed to hold the nation to ransom any more!
@ Usangakh
“They tried given the circumstances where the odds were stacked against them...wrestling ⅔ majority from zanu pf and its appendages is not a mean fit. Give credit where it is due.”
Some people are predisposed to hold their leaders in such high esteem they become infallible demigods. To them the leaders do not make mistakes and so they will not believe even their own eyes. They have Boxer, the horse in Animal Farm, "Napoleon is always right!" mentality.
It took Boxer the same time to learn the first four letters of the alphabet as others took to learn all 26 letters. It took him as long again to learn the next four and by that time it was discovered he had forgotten the first four letters. He could never come up with a rational thought of his own and so he farmed out the thinking to others. And his confidence in whatever Napoleon said such it was unthinkable for him to even question Napoleon.
In real life, we have Zimbabweans with the same Boxer mentality and they have taken it to the ultimate extreme. They not only consider it unthinkable to question Chamisa but worst of all they have taken it upon themselves to punish all those who dare question the great leader!
For a healthy and functioning democracy it is the duty of all citizens to hold leaders to democratic account. This has become mission impossible in Zimbabwe because anyone who attempts to hold the leader to account is consider public enemy number one by the brain dead wildebeest herd who must be silenced at all costs.
And so the battle royal in our dysfunctional political system is between the few asking for democratic accountability and the herd defending the perceived divinity of the leaders. The leaders have become so arrogant they say and do as they damn well please; confident of the unwavering support of the herd and the herd’s insulating effect.
There is a mountain of evidence proving beyond all reasonable doubt that MDC/CCC failed to implement even one token reform in 23 years, 5 of which in the GNU, because they are corrupt and breathtakingly incompetent. Some of the leaders like David Coltart have admitted they have been participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy out of greed.
After 43 years of rigged elections and the nation groaning under the ill effects of the failed state, one had hoped that a few in the herd had been forced to open the eyes and minds. Not a bit of it! Of course, it is tragic that we have become a nation of brain dead village idiots so easily conned by buffoons like Mnagagwa and Chamisa!
MDC/CCC leaders “tried their best under very difficult circumstances”. FCUK me!
Former SA President Thabo Mbeki agrees the SADC election report condemns the 23 August 2023 Zimbabwe elections as a sham advises both Mnangagwa and Chamisa to do the honourable thing and accept this Zimbabwe government is illegitimate.
Former President Mbeki MUST reprimand his fellow ANC leaders to stop interfering in Zimbabwe's internal affairs by watering down the damning SADC report to grant Zanu PF legitimacy and thus fulfil ANC party resolution not to allow regime change in Zimbabwe. This is the stuff that cause enmity among nations. Stop it!
https://www.facebook.com/4415858595176450/videos/1231791597503025
Post a Comment