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Letter to Bulawayo South constituents September 2006
David Coltart MP
September 14, 2006

http://davidcoltart.com/archive/2006/221

Dear Friends,

When I last wrote to you in late May, explaining my views regarding the split in the MDC, I said I would write again regarding my general work as your MP, and this is now that letter.

Life in Zimbabwe continues to get harder for all her people except the ruling elite who continue to accumulate vast wealth on the backs of the very people they claim to represent. Since the March 2005 general election we have seen some of the worst human rights violations ever committed by this regime, especially the so called Operation Murambatsvina which destroyed the lives of so many poor Zimbabweans. Despite claiming that this was designed to improve the lives of people, 16 months after the operation the hard facts show that a tiny percentage of homes destroyed have been rebuilt by the regime and the vast majority of those who lost either their homes or source of income are in a pitiful state.

Furthermore despite the claims of the regime that there is an "economic turnaround" happening, it is clear to all thinking people that this is simply another lie. The recent so called "Operation Sunrise" action of the Reserve Bank Governor, with the approval of the regime, taking three zeroes off our currency, has not addressed one of the key economic problems, inflation. Indeed if anything this policy has fueled inflation. Aspects of the new policy show just how out of touch with reality this regime is - for example the decision to print new 1 cent notes is sheer lunacy because the cost of printing the notes is vastly more than what the notes are worth.

The divisions within the opposition have been most unfortunate and have greatly benefited the regime. But we must now move on and refocus on the root of the Zimbabwean crisis - namely tyrannical rule.

However the combination of misrule and the troubles within the opposition has given rise to feelings amongst Zimbabweans written about in Psalm 7:

"He who is pregnant with evil and conceives trouble gives rise to disillusionment."

Many people in Zimbabwe are disillusioned and depressed and that is not surprising. It is in this context that the primary responsibility of leaders opposed to this regime is to provide the people of Zimbabwe with hope. Hope that this nightmare will end; hope that there are still leaders who are determined to do all in their power to bring an end to the suffering of Zimbabweans; hope that there will be a new dawn in which there is not simply a change of leadership but a positive change in the way Zimbabwe is run. In other words we have to do all we can to counter the disillusionment that so many feel.

Many of us in the opposition have been trying as hard as we can to be merchants of hope. It has been difficult because it is almost impossible to communicate effectively with our constituents in that we have very little access to the media and precious few resources to meet and generally to get our message out.

Accordingly this newsletter is primarily designed to give you some hope by explaining to you that I, along with many of my colleagues in the opposition, have continued to work tirelessly to achieve our common dream of a new democratic Zimbabwe.

Projects
As I explained in my Christmas 2005 letter to you I have been trying to raise funds to assist the most vulnerable people in Bulawayo South and I am pleased to report that many of the projects initiated some time ago are now bearing fruit.

Farming Project
A group of volunteers have worked hard this year to make the Bulawayo South Constituency Development Trust/Loving Hand Orphanage farming project a reality. Land has been cleared and a fence put up at the corner of Nketa Drive and (the very appropriately named!!) Guqula Road. A new borehole and water storage tank have been installed, a security hut constructed and electricity supplied to the site. As I write a new irrigation system is being installed. In the next few weeks the first crops will be planted. A stall will be built so that the produce of the farming project can be sold on site to Nketa residents. 10% of the proceeds will go to the Loving Hand Orphanage.

This project has been made possible through the generosity of two friends of mine who went to the same school I went to, Christian Brothers College, and through the hard work of volunteers from Nketa and other Bulawayo residents.

Cricket Nets
The Henry Olonga cricket nets which were opened last year are now being used daily. Two new cricket teams are now using them - the Jimbo and Rocky teams, shown here practicing at the Henry Olonga nets.

I have sourced cricket equipment for use by the teams and recently the equipment was handed over to them. I am grateful for the generosity of the Sporting Chance organisation in Cape Town which donated the equipment.

I am delighted to report that I have recently secured funding for the construction of another cricket net in Emganwini and this should be built within the next few months. The same donor has promised to source more money so that further cricket nets can be constructed in Bulawayo South Constituency.

Aids Victims support centre
As you will recall from previous letters I have been working with the Emganwini community and the Toc H charity to secure funding for the construction of an Aids Victims Support Centre in Emganwini. Despite receiving assurances from two embassies that they would support the project a few years ago no funding has been forthcoming yet and we have been forced to look elsewhere for funding. In this regard I have now approached the European Union Ambassador who has said the EU will consider a funding proposal. I am also pleased to report that funding from a private donor has been secured for a portion of the project. In the interim the Toc H charity has raised sufficient resources to build the caretaker’s cottage on the site which was completed recently.

Relief Fund
Through the generosity of a private donor I have established a modest relief fund for the residents of Bulawayo South of which some Z$ 500 million (old currency) has been used to date, for example, to pay for school and university fees for bright children from greatly disadvantaged families. In the past year some 10 young people have been assisted in this way through the payment of their fees, clothing has been provided to Operation Murambatsvina victims and medical fees paid for destitute people.

Annual Soccer Tournament
On the 9th September we held the 2006 Bulawayo South Soccer Tournament at Nketa Hall football ground. After a very good day with some superb soccer being played Ward 25 edged out a combined Wards 5 & 6 team 2-1. For the first time we had a small netball tournament which I hope will expand next year to include teams from throughout the constituency.

Aspen Ideas Festival
In July Professor Arthur Mutambara and I were invited by the Aspen Institute (an American think tank organisation) to speak at its Aspen Ideas Festival. We shared a panel with world renowned Ghanaian Professor of Economics George Ayittey and South African Jonathan Oppenheimer in discussing the state and future of Southern Africa. The Festival was also addressed by many prominent people such as President Bill Clinton, Alan Greenspan, Secretary Madeleine Albright and Secretary Colin Powell, some of whom we had meetings with to discuss the Zimbabwean crisis. Professor Mutambara was granted the honour of being one of just seven of the invited speakers to give closing remarks at the end of the 6 day Festival. This proved to be a wonderful opportunity to raise the plight of Zimbabweans before a powerful audience of highly influential leaders and thinkers from throughout the world. Professor Mutambara rose to the challenge and gave an inspiring and moving address.

MDC
As you are no doubt aware on the 15th June 2006 after a process of consultation I decided to join the Mutambara faction of the MDC. In the statement I made at the press conference announcing this decision I said: "I will continue to work within the Mutambara faction and with friends and colleagues in the faction of the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai to unite the two factions. I remain absolutely convinced that the struggle for democracy will remain severely handicapped for so long as we are divided." I have been true to my word and am working behind the scenes with colleagues on both sides of the divide in pursuit of this object.

I have recently been elected by the National Council to the position of Secretary for Legal Affairs and so have resumed my work in that regard.

General
I was elected by you to represent you in Parliament and to be a legislator. Regrettably the regime has undermined the institution of Parliament itself; it very rarely sits these days and when it does little productive work is done. However it is important that we do what we can to keep this institution alive as it will be a very important component in the rebuilding of a modern democratic state in future.

On the 9th September I had a very useful meeting with the residents of Ward 24 in Nketa in which we discussed the problems created by ZESA power cuts. As a result a letter has been written by me to the Minister of Energy setting out all the problems and suggesting ways of remedying them. I have no doubt that there are other similar problems being faced by you daily - if there are and you would like me to try to tackle them on your behalf please write to me or leave a note at my Constituency Office situated in the Housing Office in Nketa 6.

In closing let me remind you of the verses in Psalm 7 which follow the ones I included above:

"He who digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit he has made. The trouble he causes recoils on himself; his violence comes down on his own head."

History shows that dictatorships down through the ages are usually the authors of their own downfall and this dictatorship will be no different.

I have no doubt that the trouble that this regime has caused for ordinary peace loving Zimbabweans, who just want democracy and good governance, will rebound against itself. The very policies that the regime has implemented to prolong its stay in power (such as Operation Murambatsvina and changing the currency) are in fact speeding up its end.

However, until that happens we must rededicate ourselves to our founding ideals of democracy and non violence. We must remain united and determined to continue this struggle and not to yield to the regime. Through these means we will soon see a new, positive dawn arise in Zimbabwe.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Yours sincerely,
The Hon. David Coltart MP

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