Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart has announced that he will not resign but will remain in office following extensive public engagements.
He stated that his decision was made on principle and not for financial gain.
Coltart’s comments came following calls for all public officials elected on the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) ticket to resign in solidarity with Nelson Chamisa, who left the party two weeks ago.
Two Members of Parliament have already resigned from Parliament while some party members have left CCC following Chamisa’s exit.
In a message on his X account on Monday, Coltart stated the “overwhelming response, particularly from the Bulawayo public, has been to remain in office.”
Coltart stated while the departure of any MP is a significant loss for debate in Parliament, it does not have the same immediate impact on citizens as the resignation of a city mayor.
“In this regard, I have consulted a wide cross-section of people, particularly in Bulawayo. I have indicated on social media sites, such as X and Whatsapp, that I am consulting and have invited people to let me have their views. During this past week I have received numerous responses on X, Whatsapp and email,” he said.
The mayor said Bulawayo faces unique challenges, which need leadership and if he were to resign now his initiatives would be negatively affected.
“Aside from being in a disastrous state after decades of neglect, it is running out of water and faces severe water shortages this coming year. Whilst of course there is little that I as one person can do to remedy this, I have been involved in critically important initiatives during the last few months to provide short, medium and long-term solutions to the crisis,” he said.
Coltart claimed Chamisa called him before his resignation and told him to keep doing his work.
“At no point has he asked me to resign,” the politician said.
Coltart said he believed it is important not to cede whatever democratic space obtained in the struggle against tyranny, which resignations aided.
“In our anger with all that has happened in the past year to undermine the will of the people and to subvert constitutionalism and the rule of law, we take steps which will end up consolidating Zanu PF’s grip on all institutions including Parliament and our Cities,” he said.
Although it may seem a “pointless” exercise to defend democracy when Zanu PF was able to “ride roughshod” over the opposition, Coltart said it would be easier for the ruling party to continue doing so “without any comeback or exposure in Parliament.”
“The same considerations apply to Bulawayo. If I resign as Mayor I have no doubt that Zanu PF will simply be provided with a foot in the door to assume much greater power in the running of the City and the entrenchment of their corrupt politics at the local level,” he said.
“As difficult as the current situation is in running Bulawayo, the fact is that we do have an opportunity to do whatever we can to stabilise and develop the City for the benefit of all its residents.”
Coltart noted his stay in office did not mean he had turned against Chamisa.
“I reiterate that I did not seek this office; I was asked to take on this role by Nelson Chamisa and several other church, civic and political leaders in Bulawayo. I have always viewed it as a poisoned chalice, and after four months in office I am more convinced of that now than when I started – Bulawayo is in a terrible mess. What many may not know is the fact that my sole income for being Mayor of Bulawayo is a monthly allowance of US$25. That may seem ludicrous but it is true – it is a fact that any person can confirm by contacting the City of Bulawayo,” he said.
“So if anyone thinks that I am in it for the money they do not understand the facts. In other words one of the ironies for me is that any decision to resign as Mayor, far from being principled, would in fact be in my own self-interest.”
Coltart remarked he has two jobs, one as a Senior Partner at his law firm and the other as Bulawayo Mayor.
“I have never worked this hard as Mayor for so little remuneration in my life. It would suit me and my family perfectly to step back from the immense challenges Bulawayo faces; far from being a principled decision it would in fact be a selfish decision which would result in me having a far easier life going forward,” he said.
He also refused to be pitted against Chamisa, Tendai Biti and Professor Welshman Ncube who he described as trusted colleagues.
“All three of these men are friends of mine with whom I have been in the trenches ever since the MDC was launched on the 11th September 1999. I have admired their resilience, bravery and commitment to democracy and freedom all these years,” he said, adding he was conscious that he could be recalled at any time.
“But so be it. I would rather be removed from office by unscrupulous politicians than betray the trust and goodwill of innocent, hardworking and principled residents of Bulawayo by resigning.”
